Cross Cultural Communication - what about it?

After a recent workshop on Misunderstandings, Misperceptions, Missed Opportunities - the Challenges of Cross-Cultural Communication – I felt like I had just scratched the surface with a multi-lingual, multi-national, multicultural group. I would have loved to have the time to unpick the topic further with them all - so decided to explore it further via this blog.  

Yes, culture can interfere with communication in many ways. The misunderstandings, misperceptions and missed opportunities are real.

On reflection, I told myself that they already knew that – if not explicitly in relation to all the things we discussed, but they knew that intuitively. They had felt that in the different places they had lived, worked and built relationships; the boardrooms, schoolrooms, staff rooms, lunch rooms, living rooms, shops and cafes you’ve frequented. 

What do we do about it? 

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Communication – Aussie Slang

Language is central to communication and also to cultural identity.  

So it’s no surprise that we adapt our language with our culture.  In Australia the English spoken may be difficult for new arrivals to understand.  Accent, indistinct pronunciation, slang and diminutives can take some getting used to.

If you are expecting colourful metaphors and similes (“mad as a cut snake”, “flat out like a lizard drinking” “a face like a robber’s dog”) you may be disappointed if you are working in the business environment in Sydney or Melbourne. 

But listen out for Aussie abbreviations, which will be heard often.  This video covers many of them.

And if you are interested in improving your global communications skills take a look at our upcoming webinar.

Good Job: Culturally Intelligent Compliments

This week's blog is written by David Livermore, author of Leading with Cultural Intelligence and other books on CQ.  I met David last year when I gained accreditation in the use of the CQ Assessment Scale. His blogs are always good value but I especially liked this one as it highlights one of those areas of communication that can be tricky across cultures.  In his words below...

The giving and receiving of “compliments” is another example where leadership mantras fall short when mindlessly applied to all cultures

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