Trust In Cross-Cultural Communication – Tip 20

Cross-Cultural Communication 30-Day Challenge – Build Trust

This is the last tip on being honest. We have dug through the topic of honesty and the perception of honesty in cross-cultural communication in some detail with these tips:

• Be open and truthful
• No hidden agendas
• Be forthcoming
• Use extreme clarity to avoid wrong assumptions

Be Honest

Now for the last tip on how to ensure that people from other cultures do not doubt your honesty, let’s look at the picture from a distance.  And from this distance, the question is:

• What do people from different cultures see?

So, the next question is the important one:

• Is this whole picture one of an honest and trustworthy person or business?

This tip is of greater value in some cultures than in others.  Although most cultures will notice inconsistencies, some cultures will look at the whole picture first.

Trust In Cross-Cultural Communication Challenge – Tip 20

Groom your reputation for consistency in all aspects of how you come across to others

Be Aware Of How Your International Clients See You

Your international clients see everything about you:

• Your words, what you say, what you don’t say
• Your gestures
• Your attitudes
• How you react with them, others and people in your company
• What you do and how you do it

They usually absorb information about you that you would not imagine.  The more cultural differences, the more they will notice what you do.  And the question is:

• What do they think of the whole picture?
• Is there anything that does not fit or seem out of place?

When people from different cultures notice the different things about you they may also attach meanings.  This of course leads to the next question of whether there is anything inappropriate.

It is important that the understanding or impression your international clients have of you remains consistent. A lack of consistency in a cross-cultural environment can lead to a perceived lack of honesty.

Strive For Consistency

As you become aware of the whole picture of how your international clients see you, you need to make sure this picture is consistent.

• Are there any different cultural meanings in play?
• Is there an important aspect that needs to be strengthened?

Adopt A Different Viewpoint

This process of grooming your reputation for consistency in how you come across to others is one of awareness.

To become aware of how your international clients see you, you need to change your viewpoint and try to see yourself as they do.  As you become aware of how other cultures see you, you will be able to:

• Look for ways to improve your communication
• Have better control in avoiding wrong assumptions that effect how you are perceived

What about you?

• Do you know how international clients perceive you and your business as a whole?
• How do you find out how your international clients see you and your business?
• Does your international business suffer from wrong assumptions made my your international 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

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Tagged as: consistency, cross-cultural communcation, cultural differences, honest, International Business, trust