Cross-Cultural Communication 30-Day Challenge – Get Extreme With Clarity
There are many different aspects of a cross-cultural communication to be aware of.
Clarity In Cross-Cultural Communication Tip 13
Today’s tip is about how general cultural differences effect clarity.
Try to identify differences in communication and ways you can bridge the gap
You cannot establish clarity in communication if there are too many disconnects.
- One person may understand one thing and the other person may understand something different.
- There may even be open disagreement simply because the two parties understand two different things
A good place to start here is to be aware of the different cultural dimensions as outlined by Geert Hofstede. These cultural dimensions do not provide answers to everything, but they do give general guidelines in cultural differences. And they usually make it easy to see the root of the cultural differences.
Once you can identify the differences in communication it is easier to look for a way to bridge the gaps and improve clarity in communication.
Use this tip as a starting point. Think about what this means to you. Not sure what you think about this? There are a few links below for suggested reading to get you started. Follow each of these tips this month to improve your cultural skills.
Further Suggested Reading & Viewing
- Translations, Foreign Language Content and Culturally Customized Content
- An Example Of Cultural Differences In Behavior
- How Translation Ruins The International Sale
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Where To Get Your CCCC Tips Every Day In June:
- Cross-Cultural Communication Challenge 2 – Get Extreme With Clarity
- By following me on Twitter @CindyKing
- By using the Twitter hashtag #cccctips
Get All CCCC Tips:
First Month: Short tips to think about
There are 4 Cross-Cultural Communication Challenges in 2009. Cross-cultural communication can be overwhelming. International business professionals are often too busy to take the time to improve their cross-cultural communication skills. This is why this challenge is divided into 4 specific areas of improvement and why the tips are very short.
| Challenge | Why | When |
| Mindset | It all starts here | March 2009 |
| Clarity | Your first priority | June 2009 |
| Trust | To bring in sales | September 2009 |
| Personal Development | For strong cultural skills | December 2009 |
These 4 different aspects of cross-cultural communication are what I found to be the most important to me throughout my 25 years of international sales and marketing. You can read more about the other monthly challenges here:
- 2009 Cross-Cultural Communication Challenges
- Cross-Cultural Communication Challenge 1 – Expand Your Mindset
Don’t forget to download the Free Mini-Poster from the first monthly challenge to Expand Your Mindset
Use Your Cultural Skills to Get More International Sales
Second Month: Short review on how to use the cultural tips to get more international sales
Are you an international business professional? Then don’t stop at this month’s challenge. After each monthly Cross-Cultural Communication Challenge, the following month reviews each one of these tips once again, this time together the corresponding International Sales Best Practices.
This is where things get fun. You will see where to put your cultural skills into practice to get more international sales. Turbo charge your learning by going through the cross-cultural communication tips once again, this time looking at them from a sales angle and through the eyes of an international sales professional.
 | Want to learn how to avoid cultural blunders? Subscribe to this blog feed. Need to turbo charge your cultural skills? Get my short cross-cultural communication tips. Ready for serious international marketing? Skype me or email me & let's grow your business. |
