OVERCOMING CULTURAL DIFFERENCES

Culture can be pictured as an iceberg. You may be aware of only a small visible portion of culture, but you may be unaware of most of the invisible differences that exist. These invisible differences create issues among individuals from different cultures and ethnic backgrounds. One way to overcome these cultural differences is effective multicultural communication.

Effective multicultural communication can be achieved by choosing the right frame of mind, building relationships and communicating effectively(WikiHow,2017). Here are some suggestion to overcome these invisible cultural differences.

·         Be prepared for surprises when working with culturally different people, especially if they are new to the work environment.

·         Gestures and body language can lead to misunderstandings and are often misinterpreted. If a person looks annoyed or confused by your gesture, clarify the intended meaning.

·         Avoid making assumptions and generalizations from a bad experience with a person because they can lead to stereotypes. Every individual is not the same, even if they are from a similar background or culture.

·         People with English as a second language may not be aware of acronyms or technical words. We should not assume that the person is uneducated or inexperienced. He or she may totally understand the issues and technicality of the job but may not be able to choose the right words in English.

·         Using visual aids like charts and drawings in meetings can help with better understanding.

·         Avoid discussion on sensitive topics like religion, ethnicity, politics, etc.(Laroche, L., & Rutherford, D.,2007)

Here is a video by Pellegrino Riccardi that how we can communicate better when we are in a place with people from different cultures.

(You Tube,2014)

The core to achieve effective multicultural communication is LLIIAA formula which means

LOOK, LISTEN, INTERPRET, INTERPRET AGAIN, ACT, ACCESS

As in the above video,  Pellegrino Riccardi has shared his experience with the different culture, you can also share your experience when working with the various cultures in the comment below.

References

• YouTube. (2014, October 21).Cross-Cultural Communication. Retrieved March 17, 2017, from https://youtu.be/YMyofREc5Jk
• WikiHow. (2017, March 15). How to Work With Different Cultures. Retrieved March 17, 2017, from http://www.wikihow.com/Work-With-Different-Cultures
• Laroche, L., & Rutherford, D. (2007). Recruiting, retaining and promoting culturally different employees.UK: Elsevier, Inc.