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

Key One

Create Proactive Cross-Cultural Communication

Avoid Reactive Communication

The chapters in Key One will cover what you need to know about cultural development in order to be proactive in your cross-cultural communication. Whether you are working with or travelling to different cultures, a pattern in your communication with others is likely to emerge: If you aren’t proactive, you will be reactive. Anyone who has negotiated with different cultures, managed a multicultural workforce, or simply visited other countries knows that first impressions are made quickly—and can last well beyond that initial interaction. It is very difficult to overcome a cultural offense, no matter how unintentional it may be.

We all want to avoid embarrassing miscommunication and misunderstanding. This is why it’s so crucial to proactively adapt your style and approach in a way that is comfortable for the culture with which you are communicating. You need to understand what makes cultures so different from one another and become aware of what may work against you due to preexisting cultural perceptions.

Cultures are a bit like the chicken and the egg. How did they all begin? Cultural development is influenced by many factors, including language, climate, and environment. These impact the human nervous system, which in turn creates unique variations in communication styles and behavior. As we travel and experience different cultures, these experiences become part of our cultural layers, which in turn ...