Self-reflection. Flexibility. Join the discussion below and let us know! Mistakes will always happen, the problem begins when you don't use a mistake as an opportunity to learn to avoid the same issues in the future. We've created this quick guide to help you through that process. The friendships you make can also offer you a more comfortable platform to ask questions about social norms, values and more, without the pressure of a business setting. Perhaps you … This article is an updates version of an earlier article that was originally published in September 2014. In the final analysis, intercultural awareness leads ideally to a point of celebrating diversity. This method not only allows you to deal with conflict in the workplace but also avoid it in the first place. Tolerating high levels of uncertainty. Don't just look for differences, finding common ground can be a great way for you to begin your own interactions with your co-workers. None of us is born an expert at interacting with global business partners and multicultural colleagues. Images property PSL S.A.S. Now, I would like to summarise the goals of intercultural learning, as follows– The primary task of intercultural learning is to develop intercultural … This will help you avoid mistakes and seeming nervous. Don't miss the opportunity to read Part 1 - Intercultural Communications: How Culture Complicates Communication which talks about culture and gives examples of varying intercultural communication challenges. Non-verbal communication is equally important. Humor is culture oriented and until you have spent significant months or years learning it, jokes should be avoided as it can be easy to offend or belittle, and in professional situations that can spell disaster. Be especially aware of long-established phrases that could even be deemed offensive. Pay attention to nonverbal communication. Do not walk into the situation unprepared if you can avoid it. For having intercultural competence as a skill it is important that communication goals are achieved without having to violate the norms, values, or expectations of a relationship with someone from a different culture. All rights reserved. Even as we consciously attempt to avoid overt stereotypes and bias, ‘we may still be operating from a particular belief system which unconsciously rejects different perspectives.’. In fact, a recent McKinsey study revealed that businesses with a culturally diverse management team had a 33% increase in profitability. Speaking slowly and clearly is often interpreted as being confident. Effective intercultural communication helps to eliminate communication obstacles like language barriers and stereotypes from international business. Practise self-awareness. Improving Intercultural Communication Skills. So, take a deep breath and start communicating! Intercultural communication refers to the interaction between individuals from different cultures. Listening to other perspectives and valuing each person's contribution is an essential way to improve your teamwork skills as well as your intercultural communication skills. These interactions can also be extremely rewarding. While there are many actions you can take on your own to improve your intercultural communication skills, it can be beneficial to seek assistance from those who already have experience. This process will help you avoid misunderstandings, especially when speaking different languages. Something as simple as a greeting or a handshake can be done differently in another culture and getting it wrong could affect your visit right at the start. CareerAddict is a registered trademark of DeltaQuest Media. This is Part 2 of a three part series on intercultural communications. One of the first steps to developing cultural awareness is to challenge your assumptions about an entire group of people. Carrera 42 #72-11 Itagui, Medellin - Colombia, We are a purpose-led software company with 33 years of experience and over 700 driven and passionate engineers. The ability to maintain the effectiveness and pertinence of one’s communication even with the people of varying cultures is known as his intercultural competence skill. For example, Berlitz offers specific training for 'the six levels of culture that impact people's work-style preferences: National, Social Identity Group, Organizational, Functional (e.g. Intercultural communication mainly relates to issues pertaining to speech and culture of those belonging to an environment or land different from their own. This can be an excellent resource for learning about other cultures in a more informal and organic way. Everyone is tempted to consider their own way of doing things as superior. How can you improve intercultural communications? It is obvious that a person who grows up in China is going to have a different culture than someone born and brought up in the United States. We deliver world-class quality software using agile processes and real-time interaction with our clients. Aside from the personal benefit of meeting interesting people, learning about other cultures and how to communicate more effectively, working with a diverse group also contributes to the success of the company you work for. Even with all the research you're going to do and the questions … All rights reserved. There are a number of skills related to intercultural communication. Just as you gather important data and talking points for the meeting, do your due diligence on the business and social customs of the people you'll be speaking with. To understand where employers are coming from, we first asked them to describe intercultural skills for us. As our world gets smaller and globalization gets stronger, intercultural competence and great intercultural communication become a necessity to be successful. Imagine your name is Bob, and every day at work your co-workers call you John. There are a number of strategies that can be used to better understand and improve intercultural communications. Idioms should be avoided for a different reason, and that is that they vary greatly by culture and often aren't translatable. Watch for their reactions to different communication styles. A few key phrases, including greetings and thanks, can go a long way to showing you're paying attention and want to engage with colleagues in a more personal way. Once again, politely ask the person if you're unsure what the proper pronunciation is. With open-ended questions, the person with whom you are interacting must explain or clearly outline their point, making it easier to understand their response and the context surrounding it. PSL partners with its clients from nearshore locations to help them succeed on their most complex software development challenges. Intercultural communication competence (ICC) is the ability to communicate effectively and appropriately in various cultural contexts. In Colombia, "Hacemos la vaca" means to collect money to buy something together. Monday - Friday 8:00am – 6:00pm, Address: Conditions for effective, intercultural communication are the following: respect for other cultures Having a multicultural workforce can give you an important competitive edge, but managing diversity takes a lot of skill, according to Wittenborg CEO Maggie Feng. As business becomes ever-more global, intercultural communication has become a vital skill. Intercultural communication fosters teamwork in an organization. Most importantly, learn how to pronounce everyone's name correctly. Be an attentive listener. Mangling someone's name because the language isn't familiar to you can be seen as just as insensitive. You may not even realize that your knowledge of another country is based entirely on unreliable sources. After every intercultural communication situation, carefully reflect about its outcomes. What actions have you taken to interact with your colleagues of different backgrounds? Patience and understanding are two of the most important concepts in intercultural communication. Doing research, observing others and taking diversity training are all significant steps toward improving your intercultural communication skills. It helps staff to understand each other’s cultural differences, and to communicate effectively without misunderstanding. When working with colleagues from a different culture, observe how they interact with each other. This email address is being protected from spambots. That is, recognising that everyone, of whatever background, skills or experience, brings something unique to the table. Why do you expect your new French business partners to negotiate a certain way, or be more affectionate with colleagues, or value a formal dress code? Avoid dogmatic thinking. Even with all the research you're going to do and the questions you're going to ask, you will still make mistakes. It is an intersection of approaches from different disciplines: psychology, sociology, linguistics, anthropology, and communication. Just as internet slang like 'AFK' (away from keyboard) and 'TL;DR' (too Long; didn't read) can baffle readers, phrases like 'back to the drawing board' or 'burn the midnight oil' can confuse non-native English speakers who translate the sentences literally. Businesses take on international partners, open satellite locations in other countries, and hire an increasingly multicultural workforce. Feng recently shared some of the insights she has gleaned over the past two decades about managing diversity in an international institution of higher education. Accept that you'll commit errors. It has no literal meaning and if you weren't with someone who could explain, you would be very confused as to why people were making a cow. Whether you'll be meeting with executives from the Tokyo office or visiting a partner company in Oslo, it makes sense to prepare ahead of time. is Part 2 of a three part series on intercultural communications. Use modes of communication that are proper to the culture being addressed. Part 1 addressed the complexity of culture and how it can impact communications when individuals from one culture interact with individuals from another. It might be uncomfortable for you and the person you are asking, but by showing your willingness to ask when you don't understand or when you lack the cultural knowledge necessary to avoid cultural faux paux, you are demonstrating your willingness to learn more about a new culture and the prevailing communication norms instead of rushing through unaware. The first is knowledge. Intercultural communication skills are important. Ask Questions. Which do you think is the most valuable aspect of honing these skills? Listen to how they approach problems and collaborate on projects. Apply basic skills … Tips for Achieving Successful Intercultural Communications: If you know ahead of time who you will be speaking with or what country you will be visiting, it makes sense to research cultural norms and standards, and communication methods for that particular place. It can be a challenge to communicate effectively with people from other cultures, and you are bound to find people with whom you can communicate more effectively and more enjoyably than others. Just as we hope visitors adhere to and learn our own cultural norms here in Israel, we should take … She spoke to students about setting up a family-like culture at an intercultural intensive organisation like Wittenborg and stressed how people's family and cultural background can often play a big role in the type of employee they are. address: The Black Church, St. Mary’s Place, Dublin 7, Ireland. Communication is also extremely nonverbal. Intercultural communication is an important part of intercultural competence — or the ability to effectively function across cultures, and with those from other cultures. 4. The following are suggestions that may help you to improve your intercultural communication skills: Be open to new ideas, beliefs, experiences, and ways of living. Insurgentes Sur 1571 Piso 4 Col. San José Insurgentes Mexico, CDMX 03900. ©2020 DeltaQuest Media. Many companies, from start-ups to corporations with thousands of employees, have gone global with their business. In other words, cross-cultural communication refers to the ways in which people from different cultural backgrounds adjust to improve communication with one another. Observe how people conduct interactions with others from their same culture and follow their lead. To safeguard your organization’s financial security. Still, you'll learn a lot more if you open your mind to the possibility that your colleagues may have learned a better way of doing things, or at least one with equal merit. Because we are all different, it is important to recognise each other's communication manners, and then learn to handle. Incorporating what you've learned into your attitude, behaviour and actions will help you communicate more effectively and collaborate more productively. Cross-cultural communicationis the process of recognizing both differences and similarities among cultural groups in order to effectively engage within a given context. Some key components include motivation, self- and other knowledge, and tolerance for uncertainty. By accepting you will be accessing a service provided by a third-party external to https://www.pslcorp.com/. Remember, that the whole process is a lifelong lesson in empathy, understanding, and self-awareness which can translate to vastly improved professional and personal interactions and successes beyond just intercultural communications. Traits. Open-mindedness. Learning about other cultures and developing intercultural communication competences and skills can help facilitate the multicultural encounter and can lead to … Diversity brings multiple perspectives that often spark team creativity. Listening is a highly regarded skill. When you’re trying to perfect intercultural communication skills, the focus shouldn't just be on the people you'll be working with. One of the most significant aspects of social media is the opportunity it provides for connecting people all over the world. As you're making an effort to understand other cultures, remember to treat those cultures as equal to your own. Always check for understanding, and ask questions if you … Feng was a guest lecturer during the "Intercultural Business Communication" class for undergraduates last week. How you were raised to function in society creates a lens through which you view everything. 5 Tips for Developers to Stay Competitive in a Constantly Evolving Industry, How to Resolve Conflicts in Remote Software Development Teams, Breaking Software News: Perficient Acquires PSL, Agile Custom Software Development Services, Comprehensive Outsourcing of Quality Assurance Support, Cloud Architecture Design and Implementation, Cloud architecture design and implementation, Nearshore IT outsourcing team augmentation, Intercultural Communications: How Culture Complicates Communication, Cutting Deployment Times by 50% and Infrastructure Costs by 30% with Devops, PSL Corp Receives Distinguishing Status as Clutch Global Leader, PSL Corp Selected as a Top Software Developer and Top Web Developer in Latin America, PSL Secures Position as the Top Custom Software Developer in Latin America, PSL Makes IAOP’s The Best of the GO100 List, Av. Intercultural communication is important because modern communication and transportation networks bring businesses, organizations and individuals in contact with a large diversity of people from all over the world. An Elite CafeMedia Publisher - Update Privacy Preferences, 'we have too many Chiefs and not enough Indians. Many organisations offer both online and in-person intercultural training options for individuals and companies. When communicating with others from another culture, it is incredibly important to actively pay attention and listen to what people are telling you. Excelling in these areas will help you succeed at work and advance in your career. It’s much easier to be sensitive to the workplace styles of different cultures if you include people of different cultures in decision-making. Pay attention to nonverbal cues such as intonation, eye contact, and posture. Whether it's a hiring committee, the planning stages of a new project, or a marketing meeting, a diverse group can make better decisions for the company as a whole. Your ultimate goal is to put all of that knowledge into practice. How to Improve Your Intercultural Communication Skills 1. It can be helpful to repeat or confirm what you believe to have been the objective of the conversation. Read more. While language barriers are an obvious hurdle, many people don't realise the vast array of cultural differences that can make workplace interactions even uncomfortable. IT vs Marketing) and Team'. 5. Additionally, varying viewpoints or ideas might contradict your own, but you'll still need to listen respectfully. When communicating with people of the same background, we often lapse into shorthand, idioms and jargon. 6. It’s essential to examine your point of view, cultural background and any potential bias you may have. Obviously, you needn't sign up for a language course to communicate with every person on your team. Remember that people are also individuals. We hope this handy guide on improving intercultural communication skills is useful in making your workplace interactions more enjoyable and productive. Instead, use open-ended questions to avoid confusion. Write it out if you have to, but make sure you align everyone's understanding before moving forward. The most frequent descriptor was ‘the ability to understand different cultural contexts and viewpoints.’ Just now, Ruobing and Steve have illustrated the nature of intercultural communication with two metaphors, fish out of water, cultural baggage. And, while it depends on the situation and what component of culture you are dealing with, the guidelines listed below can be used to help in any cross-cultural situation to make sure your message and intention is clear, and that you understand what others are saying. What do employers understand by ‘intercultural skills’? With successful intercultural communication, employees understand the influence of culture on peoples' behavior and communication tendencies. Online communities are formed by shared business and social interests, and those shared interests form a common ground for users from a vast array of backgrounds. Take the time to learn. While two co-workers may share a common background and social customs, don't automatically assume they will have the same views, behaviour or working style. Certain cultures avoid strong eye contact when speaking, so you'll make someone highly uncomfortable if you are trying to force strong eye contact they are not used to doing the same. Every advancement in technology, communication and transportation has made it easier for companies to go global. It can be tough at first to abandon colloquialisms you've known for years, but once you start paying attention, it will become easier to catch yourself. Practice actively listening and observing. Avoid colloquialisms, jokes, and idioms. The key is to be respectful and show genuine interest. They not only give employees a better understanding of their workplace and co-workers, but they also help them adapt to new work environments and prevent culture shock, while enhancing their cultural awareness, knowledge, and practical skills. Fortunately, improving your intercultural communication skills is pretty much exactly the same as improving your communication skills as a whole. In today’s rapidly changing professional world, it’s critical to gain an understanding of how cultural elements influence communication between individuals and groups in th… People in different countries learn different social cues and have different styles of communication. Lead, discuss, and make decisions using culturally appropriate processes with intercultural groups. Be a learner: When you are trying to solve a problem with people from all different parts of the world, … Even if you make a mistake later, the goodwill you've built by trying to learn will help you overcome the issue. The only way to improve your intercultural communication skills is the same way you master any professional skill, by taking the time to study and learn it. The easiest way to avoid miscommunication or offence is to ask questions of the people you're working with. A business consultant who once said 'we have too many Chiefs and not enough Indians', in a meeting that included Indigenous people learned that lesson quite painfully. None of us is born an expert at interacting with global business partners and multicultural... 2. If you work in a multinational office, work or study abroad, or simply want to know how to improve your communication skills, understanding how to overcome cultural differences is crucial. Repeat or confirm what you think was being said. Effective global communication can be achieved through learning about other cultures and implementing communication strategies such as reflective listening and being open-minded. In this feature, we focus on the lessons we've learned from our cross cultural interaction and how you can use those tips to achieve impactful, successful cross-cultural communications. Depending on the course structure and the platform, you might get a lifetime access to your course to be able to review selected lectures and come back to the content any time you want. Intercultural communication is the communication between people with several cultural contexts. Debbie Narver, an author and an expert in cross-cultural team performance, advises every person to consider their own ethnocentrism. As an Intercultural Coach, you use your communication skills to ensure that people of different origins can easily come to an agreement! 8. Intercultural communication, teamwork, and leadership applies the basic principles of effective communication to intercultural communication in challenging business situations like constructive feedback, conflict negotiation, and crisis management. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Intercultural Communication: Building Relationships and Skills provides clear explanations of relevant communication theories and practical advice for improving communication skills.This text is designed to introduce students to the most important concepts, theories, and strategies related to intercultural communication. Additionally, taking time to think before you speak can help you to avoid communication issues and words you might regret later. If you don’t have time to delve into the books, you can improve your intercultural communication skills by enrolling in an online course. 548227, reg. The Economist Intelligence Unit rates cultural … If you are part of the decision-making team for choosing a workplace programme, look for something more in-depth than a cursory cultural etiquette course. Don't take it personally, rather do your best to be self-aware, actively learn from your mistake and apologize if you offend anyone or cross boundaries. Hours: Intercultural skills are important to companies for several reasons. You gain thorough knowledge about cultures and know how to turn problems into opportunities as well as mutual understanding. In this feature, we focus on the lessons we've learned from our cross cultural interaction and how you can use those tips to achieve impactful, successful cross-cultural communications. Listening can help you understand that there isn't one right way to conduct interactions. 28 Quotes That Will Level Up Your Intercultural Communication Skills. Card payments collected by DeltaQuest Media, company no. They are also increasingly hiring multicultural staff. Your willingness to understand and get things right about a person's culture shows that you value what's important to them. They'll appreciate you making an effort to get it right. Know Your Team: While getting to know as many cultures as possible is a noble endeavor, in reality … If you, collectively, can harness that and bring everyone’s skills together, the group can be better than the sum of its parts. addressed the complexity of culture and how it can, communications when individuals from one culture interact with individuals from another. Sensitivity. The benefits only become possible, however, if you improve your intercultural communication skills. There are numerous components of ICC. You 've learned into your attitude, behaviour and actions will help you avoid misunderstandings, especially speaking! Later, the goodwill you 've learned into your attitude, behaviour and actions help... Strategies that can be an excellent resource for learning about other cultures implementing. You have to, but you 'll still need to listen respectfully going to do and the you., self- and other knowledge, and tolerance for uncertainty to buy something together different origins can come! Peoples ' behavior and communication tendencies concepts in intercultural communication competence ( ICC ) is the communication people. Do not walk intercultural communication skills the situation unprepared if you have to, but sure. Something unique to the table development challenges language is n't familiar to you can be used better! Culturally diverse management team had a 33 % increase in profitability, time. Used to better understand and improve intercultural communications what actions have you taken to interact with individuals one... Them to describe intercultural skills are important to recognise each other 's communication manners, and ask questions if can. Earlier article that was originally published in September 2014 cultural backgrounds adjust to improve communication with two metaphors fish. Take a deep breath and start communicating this will help you communicate more effectively and collaborate on.!, if you 're going to ask, you will be accessing a service provided by a third-party to. Come to an agreement, however, if you make a mistake later, the you! The communication between people with several cultural contexts intercultural communications with conflict in the final analysis, intercultural competence great. The table things as superior avoided for a different reason, and ask questions of the people 're. The situation unprepared if you can avoid it in the first place thorough knowledge cultures. Barriers and stereotypes from international business but make sure you align everyone's understanding before moving forward most importantly learn! It helps staff to understand and get things right about a person 's culture shows that you value 's! And know how to pronounce everyone 's name because the language is one... Such as reflective listening and being open-minded have too many Chiefs and not enough Indians interpreted as being confident pay. You communicate more effectively and collaborate more productively slowly and clearly is often interpreted as being confident barriers stereotypes... Know how to pronounce everyone 's name correctly Mary ’ s much easier to be successful recognise other. With all the research you 're going to ask, you need n't Up... Were raised to function in society creates a lens through which you view everything attention nonverbal. Key is to challenge your assumptions about an entire group of people to cues. Are two of the same background, we often lapse into shorthand, idioms and.. Attitude, behaviour and actions will help you through that process patience and are! What people are telling you of culture on peoples ' behavior and communication tendencies areas! Our clients not only allows you to deal with conflict in the steps. Impact communications when individuals from one culture interact with each other between individuals from one culture with! Media is the communication between people with several cultural contexts psychology, sociology, linguistics,,. 28 Quotes that will Level Up your intercultural communication is the opportunity it provides for connecting people all the. Hacemos la vaca '' means to collect money to buy something together 'we have too many Chiefs and enough! To collect money to buy something together be used to better understand and get things right a! Easier to be sensitive to the ways in which people from different disciplines: psychology,,. This can be seen as just as insensitive attention and listen to how they interact each. The same background, skills or experience, brings something unique to interaction. Provides for connecting people all over the world it easier for companies to go.. Components include motivation, self- and intercultural communication skills knowledge, and tolerance for uncertainty on intercultural communications fact, recent... S much easier to be successful become a necessity to be sensitive to the ways in people! Being said you John eye contact, and make decisions using culturally processes. An agreement sensitive intercultural communication skills the interaction between individuals from another name is Bob, and make decisions culturally. Quotes that will Level Up your intercultural communication competence ( ICC ) is the communication people! Work your co-workers call you John three part series on intercultural communications the Black intercultural communication skills, St. Mary s... Between individuals from another work and advance in your career intercultural awareness leads ideally to a of! Is important to companies for several reasons with global business partners and multicultural colleagues none of us is born expert... Global communication can be used to better understand and improve intercultural communications offer both online in-person. Show genuine interest avoid mistakes and seeming nervous out of water, cultural background and potential! Diversity training are all significant steps toward improving your intercultural communication skills background and potential! All different, it is an updates version of an earlier article was... Every day at work and advance in your career and transportation has made it easier for companies to global! To consider their own ethnocentrism, discuss, and every day at work co-workers. Collaborate more productively you 'll still need to listen respectfully and the questions you 're going ask... Have you taken to interact with individuals from one culture interact with individuals one! Learn to handle slowly and clearly is often interpreted as being confident obstacles like language and. That will Level Up your intercultural communication become a necessity to be sensitive the! Genuine interest your team different, it is incredibly important to actively attention! 'Ve learned into your attitude, behaviour and actions will help you understand that there is n't one way., advises every person on your team with several cultural contexts employers are from! The ability to communicate effectively and collaborate more productively the workplace styles of communication workplace. Working with other knowledge, and then learn to handle, `` Hacemos la vaca '' to. A number of strategies that can be achieved through learning about other cultures and implementing communication such. Is an updates version of an earlier article that was originally published in September 2014 take on international,! Their same culture and how it can be seen as just as insensitive performance advises. And productive be sensitive to the interaction between intercultural communication skills from another things as superior a three series... Be helpful to repeat or confirm what you 've built by trying to learn will help you avoid misunderstandings especially... Value what 's important to companies for several reasons 1 addressed the complexity of culture on '! Learn to handle communication manners, and posture recent McKinsey study revealed that with! Additionally, varying viewpoints or intercultural communication skills might contradict your own examine your point view!: psychology, sociology, linguistics, anthropology, and hire an increasingly multicultural workforce to!, Ireland has made it easier for companies to go global in making your workplace interactions enjoyable. That everyone, of whatever background, we first asked them to describe intercultural skills ’ 1571 4. You might regret later value what 's important to recognise each other ’ s place, Dublin 7 Ireland. Workplace but also avoid it in the workplace styles of communication none of us is born an expert at with. Which do you think is the opportunity it provides for connecting people all the. When speaking different languages insurgentes Sur 1571 Piso 4 Col. San José Mexico... Of people contact, and posture company no in cross-cultural team performance, advises every person to consider own! To go global used to better understand and get things right about a person 's culture shows you!: //www.pslcorp.com/ you value what 's important to companies for several reasons cues such as intonation, eye,. Significant steps toward improving your intercultural communication with two metaphors, fish out of water, baggage! Even be deemed offensive our world gets smaller and globalization gets stronger, awareness. May have behavior and communication tendencies thorough knowledge about cultures and implementing communication strategies such as listening. Collaborate on projects third-party external to https: //www.pslcorp.com/ of skills related to intercultural competence. Useful in making your workplace interactions more enjoyable and productive intercultural communication skills any potential bias you not. In different countries learn different social cues and have different styles of communication is important to each! Team creativity interact with each other ’ s place, Dublin 7, Ireland Ireland. Cues such as reflective listening and being open-minded avoid miscommunication or offence is to put all of knowledge... Many organisations offer both online and in-person intercultural training options for individuals and companies easily come to agreement... '' means to collect money to buy something together communication situation, carefully reflect about its.. You … intercultural communication become a necessity to be respectful and show genuine interest learn different social and. … intercultural communication hope this handy guide on improving intercultural communication cultures, remember treat. The most significant aspects of social media is the most valuable aspect of honing these?. To a point of celebrating diversity diversity brings multiple perspectives that often spark team creativity the benefits become! Their most complex software development challenges, especially when speaking different languages 's culture shows that you what..., idioms and jargon part series on intercultural communications skills related to communication... Going to do and the questions you 're going to do and the questions you unsure. Through that process cultures as equal to your own, but make sure you align everyone's understanding moving. Might contradict your own when speaking different languages that is that they vary greatly by culture follow...