Say Anything to Anyone, Anywhere: 5 Keys To Successful Cross-Cultural Communication

Chapter 21

The Cross-Cultural Potter’s Wheel

Don’t Create a Warped Relationship!

Cross-cultural relationships are much like clay on a potter’s wheel. In the same way that a potter molds and creates pieces with great care, cross-cultural relationships need to be molded and creates with great care on the global communication stage. And the more time and care that one puts into such a creation, the more useful and beautiful it will be. To be successful, you need to consider the clay’s type, consistency, and malleability. You need to know the best shape, design, color, and glaze for the pot you want to create.

The same applies to cross-cultural relationships. The more time and care that is put into developing the relationship, the more productive and enjoyable it will be. To be successful, you need to consider the individual’s culture, characteristics, and what communication approach you should use to work most effectively with him or her. You need to know the most appropriate words, tonality, body language, and rapport style that will best suit the relationship you want to create.

Anyone who’s ever thrown a clay pot on a potter’s wheel knows that the most important part of the process is to get the clay centered on the wheel. And if you aren’t centered before you throw, you won’t hit the target. The clay will land off-center, thereby creating a wobble in the wheel. If this happens, you will create a warped pot—no matter how hard you try to make it symmetrical. If the clay lands completely ...