Cross-Cultural Communication

Communication styles can vary widely across cultures including differing attitudes towards time, personal distance, or the amount of personal assertiveness. These differences can cause complications in communication between people of different cultures. When we’re communicating with someone from another country or cultural group, there may be fundamental differences to how each communicator perceives the process. Not understanding some of these differences may lead us to think that the other culture is “wrong” and ours is “right.”  What’s important to remember is that we are merely different.

Different Cultural Interpretations
Silence North Americans tend to
respond quickly in a
conversation.
In some cultures the
polite response delay is
longer, while in other
cultures it seems
everyone speaks
simultaneously.
Voice Intonation The English language
relies on intonation,
falling or rising of voice
pitch, to indicate
questions or emotions
such as boredom,
interest, enthusiasm,
friendliness, anger, or
even hostility.
In many Asian languages,
changing the tone alters the
meaning of the word.

Personal Information Some people are open
about how much private
information they share
and how much emotion
they show.
Some people tend to
keep personal information
and emotions private.
Decision-Making A consensus style of
decision-making is the
norm.
An authoritative style of
decision-making is the
accepted practice.
Task Completion Emphasis is on the
finished product.
More value is placed on
the process than the
product.
Assertiveness Assertiveness is valued. Assertiveness is
perceived as pushy.
Conflict Conflict is viewed as problematic. Conflict is viewed as
useful and even positive.
By approaching people with an open mind, and by trying to notice some of these cultural differences, we can avoid falling into the trap of judging someone simply by the behaviour we observe.

Think about a time when you felt frustrated when interacting with someone of another culture or even another generation—in the workplace, in a business, or any public setting. Keeping the above points in mind, can you look at that situation in a new way, and try to analyze the differing styles or attitudes that may have led to your frustration?

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