Cross-Cultural Communication Challenge – Personal Development
This is Day 2 of the 30-day challenge to focus on your personal development in cross-cultural communication. Each day there is one short topic to reflect on and try to improve.
Day 2 – Curiosity for Cross-Cultural Competence
Once you have recognized the importance of your own mindset in cross-cultural communication and need to look for the next step in developing your cross-cultural competence. And this involves preparation to turn towards, accept and understand people who are different.
Curiosity is often a very good tool to have. Simply preparing your mindset to be open to curiosity can often help you to avoid initial cross-cultural hurdles.
Curiosity Is A Key To Opening Cross-Cultural Competence
Curiosity is a good thing. Curiosity:
- Helps us to get past our own cultural baggage
- Prepares us to greet other people’s cultures
- Begins one side of the dialogue
And it does something very important. Curiosity helps many people to take that very first step towards empathy. You absolutely must have strong skills in empathy to develop your cross-cultural skills. Empathy helps us to understand and connect with different cultures. For some people empathy comes naturally. In business it is not always easy.
A curious attitude is a very healthy attitude to have in international business. It gets you to ask the little question you would almost overlook. And this little question can lead to many valuable insights.
Steps To Get Curious
Now, most people do not have any issues in understanding how to get curious. But for a few people maintainting a curious attitude can be a challenge, especially in a business world. Here are a few things to help you:
- Put aside your own grading system
- Notice the differences
- Notice the similarities
- Assume others are human beings just like you and the people around you
- Wonder what you would do in their shoes
- Wonder why they do things differently
- Look for the reasons behind the differences you see and also the reasons for the similarities
Curiosity Opens International Opportunities
Most people learn to appreciate the value of curiosity in international business. Of course it can help you to avoid embarrassing blunders. But curiosity can also help you to discover different business environments. And these different ways of doing business can lead to your:
- Discovering new business opportunities
- Better ways of doing the things you already do
- Developing new partnerships
Curiosity can help you build your international business in many ways. Unfortunately you need to get curious before you can find out exactly how.
When Curiosity Is Difficult
The main difficulty people have in getting curious is because they have strong personal barriers or personal baggage. This is why you need to be aware of the personal baggage you carry around with you. And occasionally be willing to put this baggage down for a moment or two, just long enough to let yourself get curious.
Your Actions Today
This is a very easy day and fun for most people. Do it well and it can take you far.
- Don’t take yourself too seriously
- Be open to learn more about what you don’t know
Where To Get Your CCCC Tips Every Day:
- Here on this blog: Four Cross-Cultural Communication Challenges In 2009
- Follow me on Twitter in March, June, September and December
Need Cross-Cultural Business Coaching?
Do you need help in navigating the cross-cultural minefields of international business? Sign up for confidential one-on-one coaching sessions. Email me and ask to set up a call.
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