Cross Cultural

Communication

By – Jyoti Mishra
 Introduction

• A culture is a way of life of a group of people--the behaviors,

beliefs, values, and symbols that they accept, generally without
thinking about them, and that are passed along
by communication and imitation from one generation to the
next.
• Communication – Two way process of reaching mutual
understanding in which participants not only exchange
information, news, ideas and feelings but also create and share
meaning.
• Cross Culture Communication :- This type
of communication involves an understanding of how people
from different cultures speak, communicate, and perceive the
world around them. Cross-cultural communication in an
organization deals with understanding different business
customs, beliefs and communication strategies.
 Why Cross Culture
Communication is important ?

Globalization: Cross border movement of people, goods and data

brings more and more cultures into contact with one another and
increases the potential of cross culture communication.

 Business Opportunities
 Job Opportunities
 Improves the contribution of employees in a diverse workforce
 Sharing of views and ideas
 Talent improvisation
 An understanding of diverse market
 Elements of Effective Cross cultural
communication

• Direct –Indirect
• High Context- Low Context
• Non Verbal Communication
• Conflict avoidance
• Significance of Time
 High Context and Low Context Cultures

High Context Culture:- Cultures that

rely heavily on non-verbal and subtle
situational cues in communication.

Low Context Culture:- Cultures that

rely heavily on words to convey
meaning in communication.
 Cross Cultural Difference

• Gestures can also be a major

source of misunderstanding and
potential conflict because of
their ambiguity and different
meanings in different cultures…
 Blocks to Cultural Communication

 Ethnocentrism : Inability to accept another culture's world view; "my way is the best."

 Discrimination : Differential treatment of an individual due to minority status; actual

and perceived; e.g., "we just aren't equipped to serve people like that."

 Stereotyping : Generalizing about a person while ignoring presence of individual

difference; e.g., "she's like that because she's Asian – all Asians are nonverbal."

 Cultural Blindness: Differences are ignored and one proceeds as though differences did
not exist; e.g., "there's no need to worry about a person's culture

 Cultural Imposition: Belief that everyone should conform to the majority; e.g., "we know
what's best for you, if you don't like it you can go elsewhere."

 Tone Difference : Formal tone change becomes embarrassing and off-putting in some
cultures.
 Outcomes of poor cross cultural
communication

• Loss of Customers
• Poor staff retention
• Poor working conditions
• Misunderstandings
• Stress
• Poor morale
• Poor Productivity
• Lack of co-operation
• Loss of Profits
Strategies for Cross Cultural Communication
Improving Cross Culture Communication
 Barriers to Cross Cultural Communication

• Barriers refer to the hindrances or hurdles.

• It adversely affects the transmission of information from the sender to the receiver
• Types of barriers are:
• Sender Related Barriers
 Improper Diction.
 Inconsistent Non- verbal Signals.
 Either or Thinking.
 Fear.
 Sender Credibility
• Receiver Related Barriers
 Selective and poor Listening.
 Evaluating the Source.
 Perceptions.1. Stereotyping
2.Projection
3.Halo Effect
 Lack of Responsive Feedback.
 Metacommunication.
• Situation Related Barriers
 Barriers to Cross Cultural Communication-
Contd…

Situation Related Barriers:-

• Jargon
• Information Overload
• Time Pressure.
• Communication Climate
• Noise
• Distance
• Mechanical Failure.
 Overcoming the Barriers to Cross Cultural
Communication

• Sender Responsibility
• Setting Communication Goals
• Using Appropriate Language
• Practicing Empathic Communication
• Improving Communicator’s Credibility
• Encouraging Feedback.
• Using Face - To - Face Communication
• Developing Trusting Climate
• Receiver’s Responsibility
• Effective Listening