- Published: September 18, 2022
- Updated: September 18, 2022
- University / College: University of Cambridge
- Language: English
- Downloads: 30
Cross culture communication is a knowledge one owns tounderstand how people from different cultures speak and communicate and seetheir general surrondings. It is a process of exchanging, negotiating andmediating cultural difference through language, non- verbal gestures and powerdistances. There is the need to understand the realities of communicating in aculture other than one’s own as all nations are becoming more globallyinterdependent.
It is also imperative as a fresh graduate you understand thecomplexities of living in a foreign culture. Cross cultural communication therefore becomes an essentialskill that one should have in order to survive in this era of globalizationthat is largely brought about by technology. Cross cultural communication inbusiness plays a vital role in successfully establishing the product or servicein different area of the globe. When the communication is effective, employeesare able to have the ability to understand people from different cultural backgrounds, build trust, demonstrate respect and also speak other languages.
Ineffective communication cross culturally can offend, confuse or send a misunderstood messages which could lead to a broken relationswith investors and employees. A common cross cultural barrier in businesscommunication is the use of the language. Not every business globally doesbusiness in English.
Without the knowledge of the other cultures, people tendto make embarrassing mistakes when conducting international business and theseerrors confuse or offend business partners and make effective communicationdifficult. Using techniques suchas active listening, including paraphrasing or repeating what the other personhas said, people confirm their understanding to prevent misinterpretation. Butthey also need to consider cultural conventions, such as timing and tone, to betruly effective. Effective intercultural communication strategies preparepeople to live or work in other countries, help business departments understandeach other better or prepare a company for a merger or acquisition. Language barriers can also come in the form of either theuse of inappropriate language or the use of foreign language. As we know when anew employee is slow to adapting to the changes that could be brought by thediversity in the employee population of the organization, it will in turncreate a big impact on the new employee’s workload and their careerprogression. It is conceivable that job efficiency requires a key skill ofcultural competence and without interaction; it is hard to get things done. It is strongly recommended for fresh graduates to keep anopen mind towards various cultures so that they can meet the demands of an everchanging global village.
If they cannot catch up, they might be at risk ofgetting dismissed. Further conflicts and politics in the company are avoidablethrough social behavior and cross cultural communication. It is only when thereis interaction that one gets to know another.
In conclusion, mastering of crossculture communication skills is the key factor to thriving in the workplace. Itis only with that they will be well prepared to embark on their career.