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Sep 28, 2023 · Engaging with people from different cultures can be an enriching and enlightening experience, fostering understanding and promoting intercultural harmony. This document aims to provide insights ...
Dr. Louise Rasmussen is an applied cognitive psychologist. She works to advance cultural competence in demanding environments through research, training, and assessment. Cross-cultural competence helps you be more capable and confident when engaging people from different cultures. Build cross-cultural competence in 12 ways.
Mar 9, 2024 · Travel and Cultural Immersion: Whenever possible, travel to different countries or engage in cultural immersion experiences. Direct exposure to different cultures is one of the most effective ways to learn. Diverse Networks: Build and maintain a diverse network of contacts. Regular interactions with people from various cultural backgrounds can ...
- Overview
- The Right Attitude
- Verbal Communication
- Non-Verbal Communication
To build good relationships with people from other cultures, it is essential to learn how to communicate with them verbally and non-verbally. You can make things easier by also learning about their culture and practicing tolerance. Armed with the knowledge of how to communicate effectively, you can learn from people from other cultures and share yo...
Learn about the culture beforehand.
A little knowledge can go a long way. If you have time before embarking on a trip or meeting with someone from another culture, try to take time to learn the basic “do’s and dont’s” of that culture. You can find information on this from internet sources such as those provided by the National Center for Cultural Competence.
Different cultures will speak at different volumes, be more or less direct in showing emotion, may or may not expect to engage in “small talk,” and exhibit other dissimilarities in communication.
When communicating with people from other cultures, be prepared to encounter such differences, including ones that you were not aware of.
When communicating with a different culture, there may be unwritten rules about social hierarchy that you are not used to.
For instance, you may come from a culture where men and women are expected to communicate equally with each other but may have to interact with someone from a culture where men may do more talking in mixed company. Similarly, you may be communicating with someone who expects that a younger person should let an older person do most of the talking, while you expect people across age groups to communicate equally.
Speak clearly and slowly, if necessary.
Refrain from shouting unnecessarily or treat others as though they do not understand.
Raising your voice does not make you easier to understand and can be seen as rude. Likewise, even if there are difficulties in communicating with people from other cultures, do not treat other people as though they are unintelligent. Communication difficulties arise from cultural differences, not because of matters of intelligence.
Be polite and use formal modes of address until it is made clear that you don’t need to (such as a business contact telling you to use first names). Depending on the cultures that are interacting, this may include addressing others:
By first and last name
With a title such as “Mr.” or “sir”
In some cultures, pointing with an index finger, giving the “ok” sign, and other common gestures can be seen as offensive. Since you may not know which gestures could be mistaken in this way, stick to “open-handed” gestures.
For instance, try using your whole hand if you need to point to something.
Assume a formal posture at first.
Keep your feet on the floor, sit up straight, don’t use your arms too expressively, and otherwise keep your posture more or less conservative. This is because certain postures can be seen as offensive to others. For instance, showing your foot in some cultures is seen as a rude gesture, so you would not want to cross your legs in a way that your sole sticks out.
If it becomes clear that a less formal posture is acceptable, you can follow suit.
Some cultures may expect more physical contact between people when communicating than other cultures do. For example, some cultures may shake or touch hands more willingly than others.
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- Learn The Etiquette of Other Cultures. Part of building relationships with people from different cultures means studying their etiquette. You’ll want to do research on their norms and unspoken rules.
- Don’t use slangs or jargon that aren’t globally accepted. Using words that people from other cultures may not understand can make them feel uncomfortable.
- Avoid Talking about Culturally Sensitive Topics. Cultural sensitivity is important, especially nowadays. What’s triggering to one culture may be different from another.
- Don’t Stereotype. Leave your bias at the door when communicating across cultures. Because everyone is different. If you know someone from another race. Don’t assume everyone in that race will be the same.
Fostering effective communication in cross-cultural and diverse environments is a continuous process that requires ongoing effort, self-awareness, and understanding. In order to build trust and connection with others from different backgrounds, we must be willing to open our minds to new perspectives and experiences.
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Becoming aware of your own culture as a first step in learning about other people's culture. Building relationships with people from many different cultures. But first let's talk about what culture is. Culture is a complex concept, with many different definitions.
