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 |
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| 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?