Cross-Cultural Communication 30-Day Challenge – Build Trust
This is the second of 5 specific ways to be polite and build trust in cross-cultural communication. The 4 other tips we look at in being polite are:
Be Polite
Politeness is not a set of things we add onto ourselves. It starts within us. This is the politeness people from other cultures notice first. It is the level of politeness you cannot fake.
In this series of trying to be polite we are not going to go through a list of what to do and what not to do to be polite. Instead we going to look at some universal ways of approaching politeness.
Trust In Cross-Cultural Communication Challenge – Tip 27
Seek the path of gentleness
Gentleness is not always the right answer in international business. But this blog is in English and many English-speaking cultures should seek this path towards a more gentle approach to communication in cross-cultural environments.
Today’s tip is very closely linked to yesterday’s: to use subtlety. It is perhaps a different angle of the same approach.
Often The Best Approach
As I said above, gentleness is not always the right approach in international business, but in my experience is of often the best one… the easiest approach to take.
Of course, it depends on the cultural mix in question, and on the level of communication skills.
What I can say, is that the international business people with the most expert skills that I have met all favored using a gentle approach first.
The Strength Behind Gentleness
A gentle approach works best in international business when we have three other key ingredients:
- Excellent self knowledge about our own cultural baggage, boundaries
- The appropriate self-confidence
- … and sound knowledge about our business
The combination of these three ingredients together with a gentle approach works well to build trust. The business connections made in this environment are usually strong ones. This is why a gentle approach is a favorite one to use in cross-cultural environments.
The Whole Communication
Remember that actions and timing of actions do not easily come across as “gentle”. What you do and how you do it can also be taken badly.
Feel that gentleness is not for you? Remember how the communication is perceived as a whole. It is almost always a good idea to consider a gentle approach in verbal and written communication first. You can always add a little more edge to your communication through strategic actions and timing.
There are many potential areas for cultural blunders and barriers in cross-cultural communication. This is why a gentle approach to communication is often the best choice by default in international business, it:
- Helps to avoid cultural barriers and blunders
- Soothes natural human wariness to what is foreign
- Builds a foundation for trust
Questions for you…
- Why is a gentle approach in cross-cultural communication important to being polite and building trust?
- When would you consider not using a gentle approach in international business?
- What do you think about a gentle approach in cross-cultural communication?
Please share your stories in the comment section below.
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 @CindyKing
- Use the Twitter hashtag #cccctips
Get All CCCC Tips:
- Read more about all 4 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
And… don’t forget to get the previous Mini-Posters
She is who I turn to when I have questions and you should too"
-- Chris Garrett, co-author of the "Problogger" book
