Communicating Differently

I haven’t had much experience with communicating with people of different cultures. I look forward to get the opportunity to work with people of different cultures in the very near future.

The three strategies that I will use when I get the opportunity to work with people of different cultures are:

1. Consider asking more question than I normally would if I were interacting face to face to clarify meanings and the interpretation of message

2. Use “small talk” and comments about the weather, what your typical day is like, and other low-level disclosures to build a relationship. Then look for reciprocal responses from your communication partner that indicate a relationship is naturally evolving.

3. I will summarize and paraphrase messages that you receive more often than you might normally, in order to increase the accuracy of message content.

Reference

Beebe, S. A., Beebe, S. J., & Redmond, M. V. (2011). Interpersonal communication: Relating to others (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.