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TEXT 2What a Manager Should Know about Cross-cultural Communication
Imagine that your company sends you to Japan for a technical meeting. The Japanese company's representative comes to your hotel room and inquires if you have had your lunch. You tell him that you are anxious to try some sushi. You feel great when he invites you to the hotel restaurant, where a gracious waiter encourages you to try various kinds of sushi. A while later, you begin to feel very bad, when you realize that your host has just paid $300.00 to $400.00 for your lunch. This happened to a manager of a high tech Colorado company about 20 years ago. Today, due to the lessons he has learnt over the years through an ongoing contact with the Japanese vendors, he is unlikely to experience another culture shock.
Use Face to Face Communication to Build Bridges
Forget about email and telephone when trying to establish operations or find vendors abroad, advises Scott Meyer, who has worked for many years in Europe. Instead, go on an extended business trip to the country of interest. Try to spend time in the major metropolitan areas, as well as in less popular peripheral locales. Immerse yourself into that country's culture, develop insights into the dynamics of country's business culture. Experience first-hand how people in that county react to products or services, similar to yours. Establish personal relationships and business contacts.
Use Interpreters Wisely
Do not underestimate the role of an interpreter in a cross-cultural setting. A similar cultural background between the non-English-speaking client or vendor and the interpreter will make communication easier. There are two types of interpreters. Simultaneous interpreters facilitate conferences with a large number of attendees. Simultaneous interpretation requires special equipment that allows the presenter to speak without pausing while the interpreter listens through the headphone and interprets the speech. Consecutive interpreters are better suited for small meetings and trade shows, where the speaker would pause after few sentences so that the interpreter can relay the message. When using a consecutive interpreter it is important to pace your presentation and let the interpreter and the listeners keep up with it. Use humor sparingly. Avoid jokes that rely on the English language puns and wordplay, or on an understanding of the U.S. culture.
In summary, any cross-cultural business situation is a journey. There are going to be differences. Expect them. Learn to appreciate them. Learn from them. Learn to adapt.
1. Cross-cultural communication is a field of study that looks at how people from differing cultural backgrounds communicate and how they endeavour to communicate across cultures.
Кроскультурная коммуникация – это наука, которая изучает как общаются люди с различными культурными взглядами, и как они пытаются находить общий язык.
2. It would be better to go on an extended business trip to the country of interest, because face to face communication will help you to build bridges.
Лучше поехать в заграничную коммандировку, в страну, которая вас интересует, т.к. личное (живое) общение поможет наладить отношения.