Cross-Cultural Communication 30-Day Challenge – Get Extreme With Clarity
Yesterday we looked at why it was useful to look at your cross-cultural communication from different angles. And the reason you do this is to identify possible sources of confusion and lack of clarity. That was the last cross-cultural communication on becoming aware of your communication. The next step after becoming aware of what you say is to try to simply your communication and make it easier for everyone to understand.
Clarity In Cross-Cultural Communication Tip 16
Adapt your communication to make it easy for others to understand
Many people with little international exposure will think that this means talking slowly. And occasionally this also involves talking louder or shouting. Well, most of your international clients are not two years old. they don’t have the same communication difficulties. Talking to your international clients as if you were talking to a toddler can even be insulting.
If you do talk fast you will help your international clients by slowing down, but there is no need to slow down beyond a certain level.
Your international clients also appreciate when you adapt your communication in other ways too, for example:
- Use easy words
- Use short sentences
- Make sense to people outside of your niche
- Don’t omit any key information even if you assume it is common knowledge
- Explain important concepts thoroughly
- Repeat important things in different ways
- Do not use two different words for the same thing
Reduced vocabularies is one of the things many long term international professionals commiserate with each other about. When you continually strive to simplify your communication you stop using many of the words you would normally use when talking to your fellow countrymen. This is because you adapt your vocabulary to fit in with the average English language level of your international clients.
Adapt your communication to make it easy for others to understand your and avoid cross-cultural misscommunication.
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
- A Different English For Your International Audience
- Culture-Free Communication
- English For International Appeal
Get All Cross-Cultural Communication Tips:
- Read more about all of the 2009 Cross-Cultural Communication Challenges
- Cross Cultural Communication Challenge 1 – Expand Your Mindset
- Cross Cultural Communication Challenge 2 – Get Extreme With Clarity
- Cross Cultural Communication Challenge 3 – Build Trust
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