Cross-Cultural Communication 30-Day Challenge – Build Trust
This is the last of 5 tips on showing respect to build trust in cross-cultural communication. Here are the previous tips:
Show Respect
In the previous 4 tips on how to show respect to build trust in cross-cultural communication we looked very closely. Finding the right way to show respect in an appropriate manner across cultures may now seem complicated. But it is not complicated and it is not difficult. It can boil down to the communication basics we will look at today.
Trust In Cross-Cultural Communication Challenge – Tip 25
Understand what to say and when to say it
Finding the right way to show respect boils down to understanding what to say and when to say it.
This only becomes complex when dealing with cultures you do not understand and this is why we need to always try to learn more about others. Here are a few areas to keep in mind…
What You Say
The first thing you should try to find out is what you need to say and do to show respect appropriately. Different cultures have different practices.
The more you learn about different cultures, the more you will learn what you need to say.
When To Say It
It is not only what you say and do that is important, but also when you say it.
There may also be different practices at different levels of hierarchy. Something that might not cause a problem at one level of hierarchy might be seen as a lack of respect within another level of company hierarchy.
“When” can also be interpreted as “where” you say it. There are circumstances when it is expected to show a little more respect than others. This could be:
- In front of colleagues
- In front of superiors
- During the first meeting
- During a special event
How To Say It
This is something I notice with seasoned international professionals: they are skilled in knowing how to say things to show respect… and avoid any perception of lack of respect.
I find it hard to describe how to say things in the right way to show respect. It is much easier to look at what this usually does. The skill in knowing how to say things to show respect:
- Creates warmth in the communication
- Makes the communication is so easy you could forget you are in a cross-cultural environment
- Is a big step in making the connection between two cultures
Context In Strong Communication Skills
What can you do to show respect in an appropriate manner? How can you improve your cross-cultural communication?
- Read up as much as you can
- Observe with curiosity continually
- Engage in conversations and share experiences
- Try to be as respectful as you possible
There is one thing that is obvious:
- Context plays a key role in how you need to adapt your communication
This context includes everything that is involved in the communication and will influence how you need to communicate to show respect.
Questions for you…
- How much of the context of the cross-cultural communication do you need to understand?
- How does understanding your international clients help your cross-cultural communication?
- Why are blunders more frequent when people do not understand the context of in a cross-cultural communication?
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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