Caterpillar Spirit
  • Home
  • GLOBAL TEAMS
  • GLOBAL LEADERSHIP
  • GLOBAL SKILLSETS
  • GLOBAL MOBILITY
  • LEARN @ CS
  • Contact

BLOG
CULTURE BUMPS

Are you communicating effectively across cultures?

2/9/2015

0 Comments

 
Communicating effectively across cultures as a team member or a leader takes time and practice. Lots of practice.

In case you need a reminder, here are some helpful tips to improve your communication across cultures.

1)    Decide on how formal to be. Consider the other culture’s issues of respect such as terms of address, age, manner of speech, body language, eye contact, dress, and personal space. Too much informality may be interpreted as disrespect.

2)    Don’t rush to get down to business. Establish the relationship first. For example, too often US Americans are results oriented without sensitivity to the “people” ingredient.

3)    Never assume anything.  Observe, listen, and take your cues from others. Provide clear reasons and background information for all requests or changes. The listener may not understand why you need or what you are asking for.

4)    Be aware of your verbal communication style.  Slow down and use simple words. Avoid colloquialisms or slang, particularly sports analogies. Never shout.

5)    Be empathetic. Realize that the other speaker may be having as much difficulty and frustration as you are.

6)    Be aware of your own cultural bias. Realize that each person perceives the world through the filters of his or her own cultural glasses, and that your way of seeing things is just that - your way of seeing things.

7)    Don’t be quick to judge.  Don’t jump to conclusions until you have all the information you need to understand the situation. 100% certainty can be very dangerous!

8)    Rephrase, confirm and repeat to ensure understanding. A “yes” may not mean real understanding or agreement as much as being polite. Conversely, don’t pretend to understand when you do not.

9)    Be careful with humor.  Jokes can be easily misunderstood and can do more harm than good.

10)  Be patient.  Communicating across cultures takes longer. Plan for more time needed.

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Get culture bumps
    in your mailbox.

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    August 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014

    Categories

    All
    Healthy
    Leading
    Living
    Working

    Picture

    writers

    Jamie Müller
    Roland Müller

Picture

CATERPILLAR SPIRIT
RESOURCES
CONTACT US

IMPRESSUM

Copyright © 2025 
Jamie Müller - Caterpillar Spirit
Heidelberger Strasse 70
69151 Neckargemünd-Waldhilsbach 
Germany
Tel.: +49 (0) 172 75 71 479
info(at)caterpillarspirit.com

Work. Live. Lead. Successfully Across Cultures.

  • Home
  • GLOBAL TEAMS
  • GLOBAL LEADERSHIP
  • GLOBAL SKILLSETS
  • GLOBAL MOBILITY
  • LEARN @ CS
  • Contact