Cross-Cultural Communication 30-Day Challenge – Get Extreme With Clarity
This is the last tip in this series to get extreme with clarity in cross-cultural communication. And we end with a basic best practice and yet it is the hardest. Like most of the other cross-cultural communication tips to succeed in today’s tip it takes personal effort and practice.
Clarity In Cross-Cultural Communication Tip 30
Here is today’s tip:
Try to see your communication from the other person’s viewpoint
Of course, if when we are able to see things from the other person’s viewpoint, it is easy to communicate clearly. We understand what needs to be explained and how to approach the communication. We know how to make the connection for an effective conversation. Clarity of communication become obvious.
But it is not easy to see your communication from the other person’s viewpoint.
Beginner’s Over Confidence
It often seems to me that we are more confident in our understanding of the other person’s viewpoint when we are novice in cross-cultural communication. It is often only with experience that we realize just how far we are from being able to put ourselves in the other person’s shoes and seeing things as he sees them.
Personal Limitations
In practice, after spending years working with specific cultures I can look back and see my own limitations. Of course, compared to others I have a very intimate understanding some cultures. For example my understanding of the French, Malay, British and Canadian cultures as a “foreigner” goes very deep. But I have encountered barriers within myself that stop me from becoming “native”.
Of course, I usually have an excellent understanding of the viewpoints of the people from these cultures. I can anticipate reactions and adapt my communication to improve clarity for the other person. But I will always communicate with these cultures from my own personal cultural standpoint.
In international business, this level of cultural understanding is usually more than enough. As I mentioned earlier, with experience you realize the distance that separates you from other cultures. This is because you become aware of your own limitations.
What’s Next
Leave a comment below and tell me how happy or frustrated you are with your understanding of different cultural viewpoints and how this effects your international business.
Cross-Cultural Communication Calendar
Look out for the calendar for 30 days to get extreme with clarity, published later this week and free to download.
International Sales Best Practices
Just like with the last Cross-Cultural Communication Challenge, we will review each of these tips to see how they fit into international sales best practices.
Build Trust
Our next Cross-cultural Communication Challenge will be on trust and it will be in September.
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
- Cultural Perception Of The Use Of Information
- International Perceptions Of Obama’s Inauguration News Coverage
- Customizing Content For Your Clients
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
Free Mini-Posters With Monthly Calenders
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She is who I turn to when I have questions and you should too"
-- Chris Garrett, co-author of the "Problogger" book
