Cross-cultural communication is a big deal. It is a natural differentiator for global leaders in the 21st century, and it also gives you as a business professional or employee a competitive advantage.
It’s not just about what you say, but how you say it and how people receive and interpret what you’re saying. In order to get your point across effectively and make sure that everyone in your team understands what you’re saying, you need to know the differences between each culture’s communication style.
For example, let’s look at the element of time. I remember serving as a hostess for a West African wedding and it was scheduled to start at 2:00 p.m. I promptly arrived 30 minutes early and the entire building was empty. At 2:00 p.m. on the button, a few guests from the US and UK arrived, but the bride had not arrived at all. Almost 90 minutes later, the ceremony began and it seemed that everyone else but me and the early guests got the memo! This was a normal cultural occurrence.
In an office setting the aspect of time can influence whether a teammate or leader feels an employee is or isn’t demonstrating commitment. Whether you’re from the U.S., Africa, Canada, Australia, or somewhere else in the world, learning to communicate with people from other cultures is a skill that will help you in all areas of your life. It will help you gain a better understanding of yourself as well as others and give you the tools necessary to interact successfully with people from different backgrounds.
And if you want to understand a culture, you need to know what that culture’s needs are—and then how to meet them.
One of my guests, Mbeke Waseme, is a relocation consultant who has lived in many countries and cultures across the globe. She gave some great ideas in our episode on how to begin stretching your cross-cultural communication muscles right where you are.
It’s important for leaders at all levels to understand these differences so that they can create environments where people feel comfortable communicating openly with one another without fear of judgment or repercussion for speaking up!
Here are some tips for understanding and using cross-cultural communication:
1) Be aware of your own cultural norms and expectations, and don’t assume that others will think the way you do.
2) Be curious. Chances are you will make a mistake, as we often do. When in doubt, ask questions! It’s always better to ask for clarification than to assume that you’re right.
3) Learn more about the culture you’re communicating with so that you can speak about it accurately. Find out what is unique about their culture, so you can make an effort to respect that instead of alienating them with stereotypes or assumptions about their customs or beliefs (or lack thereof).
4) Consume different forms of media. Music, movies, and food are great introductions to other cultures. It’s not just about understanding how to communicate with people from different cultures, it’s also about understanding how to use that knowledge in your daily life.
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