Responding effectively to different cultures when preparing for business communication is a critical business survival strategy in a global economy, and it permeates almost all aspects of business after that. Contract negotiations, production operations, product sourcing, marketing campaigns, and human resource decisions are all influenced by culture.
What is Culture
Culture is a collection of attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, and traditions. Members of a community pass on these learned cultural cues to one another so that they become ingrained, accepted parts of their society. Social structure, language, religion, and communication are all common cultural elements. Because business partners interact within their own cultural context, beliefs about the role of business and how business activities should be carried out fall under this understanding of culture. The pacing of negotiations, the level of formality between business partners, and subtle versus direct conversation about money are all examples of cultural preferences in business.
Communication Breakdown
Ignoring culture in business communication can result in issues and communication breakdowns. When employees do not share the same understanding of goals, expectations, and processes, internal business communication can be disrupted or misinterpreted. Understanding culture can assist businesses in anticipating potential challenges or barriers to the implementation of new policies or processes before they fail. Some business cultures, for example, may thrive in an exchange and dialogue-based communication system, whereas others (for example, Japanese and Arab cultures) rely more heavily on subtext. If new information or ideas are thrust upon employees who are accustomed to a more collaborative work environment, there may be a lack of buy-in and the project will fail.
Culture in Business
The way people think about business in their own society is influenced by culture. When working with people from other cultures, being aware of cultural attitudes toward business will help you communicate more efficiently and effectively. In business, Asian cultures, such as Japan and China, encourage teamwork and cooperation, whereas Western businesses encourage individual action and responsibility. Understanding these values will assist you in developing an effective communication strategy with regional partners.
Effect of Communication
Culture has a direct impact on both verbal and nonverbal business communication. Some cultures, such as Australia, the United Kingdom, India, and Germany, place a high value on the words that are actually spoken. Other cultures, such as Japanese and Arab cultures, still value the spoken word, but they also value the context of the conversation. Silence has different meanings in different cultures, and this can be interpreted differently during cross-cultural business meetings.
Cross-Cultural Core Competency
It is critical that you demonstrate your global citizenship so that international customers will be willing to do business with you. Setting a goal of deepening your understanding of all the cultures you may encounter while expanding your international marketing is unrealistic. Rather, strive for a core competency. According to an article in “Profit,” you should focus on six areas of knowledge: Familiarize yourself with cultural attitudes toward strangers, language barriers, how groups respond to sales pitches as favors or cut-and-dry presentations, local channels you must use for brand awareness, the country’s or region’s technical proficiency and capacity, and how the culture views the importance of doing things on time.
Cultural Roots of Business Etiquette
You must understand how a culture views business dealings in order to know how to approach businesspeople in that culture. Some cultures regard a transaction as a friendly favor, whereas others prefer the more American style of a straightforward discussion about making money. Others may permit business discussions in certain settings but frown on them in others. Investigate this aspect of the culture before making any business proposals.
MULTI Communication
Enhancing Cross-Cultural Communication
Culture education allows people in the national and international workforce to learn about and appreciate their diverse backgrounds. It enables your employees to correctly interpret nonverbal and verbal communication from other cultures. Nonverbal communication protocols in Western and Asian cultures differ, for example, in terms of eye contact and gestures. Avoiding eye contact, for example, emphasizes respect in Asian cultures while portraying distrust in American cultures. Understanding these cultural differences improves your intercultural negotiating skills. Furthermore, proper message coding and interpretation of meaning increase sales and foster greater interpersonal collaborations within your multicultural environment.