What are the key differences in cross-cultural communication and how can you turn them to your advantage?

How to define cross-cultural communication?

Cross-cultural communication is the exchange of words, emotions, gestures, and body language between people from diverse backgrounds, bridging differences in culture, race, age, ethnicity, and gender. In a business setting, it's about effectively connecting individuals from different cultures within the company and adapting communication to the corporate culture and colleagues.

What makes effective cross-cultural communication so important?

• It generates trust: Good communication between people from different cultures creates greater trust.
• It improves creativity: A cultural diversity provides a larger selection of possible solutions to any problem or challenge faced in the workplace.
• It improves progress: It has a direct impact on the interaction between companies and employees and it allows people to interact efficiently across cultures despite their cultural differences.
• It increases productivity and profit: It boosts productivity in numerous ways, reducing misinterpretation and a better understanding of strategies and goals.
• It creates an inclusive environment: It makes employees feel more valued, connected, brings harmony and a sense of equality.
• It changes the STATUS QUO: Cultural diversity means that more questions are asked which often leads to potential improvements that would be missed in a monocultural environment.

What are BARRIERS in cross-cultural communication?

There are many, but a major barrier to cross-cultural communication is that people normally filter their thoughts and experiences through their own culture, causing misunderstandings and miscommunication due to differing worldviews.

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Cross-cultural communication EXAMPLES:

1. Language: Even if you speak the same language, words can have different meanings in different cultures or countries. For example, if a U.S. speaker says he is “pissed,” it means he is angry, but if a British says the same, he is drunk.
2. Assumption of similarities: We often assume that the way we behave is the norm accepted by all and when someone behaves differently, we have a negative view of them. For example, the Asians are very silent and avoid eye contact while the Africans smile and have an eye contact.
3. Nonverbal misinterpretation: Not all gestures have the same meaning across cultures. For example, thumbs up is the signal for approval or agreement is in European and American cultures, however, in many Islamic and Asian countries, it is considered an insult.
4. Age: Team members from different generations can have different points of view according to their perceptions and worldviews (Baby boomers value more job security, Generation X value work independence, Millennials value pay, benefits and flexibility, …)
5. Education: People from different countries may have preconceptions about different education levels as in some countries, certificates are very important, while in other, experience counts more.