Ten Tips for Cross-Cultural Communication

Cross-cultural communication can be a tricky business.
These basic tips can go a long way in minimising misunderstandings and maximising your cross-cultural communication skills.

Cross-cultural communication cannot be entered into lightly or without a certain degree of preparation. Otherwise, you run the risk of causing misunderstandings that damage the very relationship you are trying to build.

Here are some simple tips to improve your cross-cultural communication skills, and build better relationships with people of other nationalities and cultures.

Slow Down

Even if English is the common language, it may not be the other person’s first language. Slow down and concentrate on your pronunciation so you are speaking clearly.

Take Turns to Talk

Talking when other people are speaking can be confusing at the best of times, so imagine the problem for someone who isn’t speaking their most familiar language. In a cross-cultural communication, take turns to talk by making a point and then listening to the response before you reply.

Use Plain English

Even those who speak the language fluently are unlikely to be familiar with the broad range of slang, idioms and sayings that a language can contain. Stick to Plain English to minimise the risk of misunderstandings or having to explain what you mean.

Check Understanding

If you or your listener misunderstand a key sentence early on in a cross-cultural communication, then anything that follows is likely to be misunderstood as well. Be an active listener and summarise key points to ensure you both have the same understanding of what is being said. To minimise the risk of misunderstandings, take a moment to learn about the seven barriers to communication.

Write it Down

If you are unsure whether something has been understood correctly, write it down and get the other person to confirm it is correct. This can be particularly useful in a cross-cultural communication about complex concepts and figures.

One Question At a Time

Natural speakers of a language can handle complexities such as combining questions, such as “Do you want to carry on or shall we stop here?” This is harder for a non-native speaker to understand, so let your listener answer one question at a time.

Avoid Negative Questions

Similarly, negative questions are a language complexity that may be lost on someone who isn’t used to speaking it. For example, “Are you not coming?” It’s best to keep your sentence structure simple to ensure the listener understands, and so you can be sure about the meaning of their response.

Watch The Humour

In many cultures, business is taken very seriously, so bear in mind that the use of humour may not be appropriate. Even if you do consider using humour in a cross-cultural communication, bear in mind that sense of humour varies from country to country. For example, British sarcasm can come off rude if the listener comes from a culture that doesn’t use it much.

Maintaining Etiquette

Many cultures have social customs when communicating, which is why cross-cultural communication training is always advisable. At the very least, you need to research the culture you will be interacting with to gather insights that steer your dialogue.

Be Supportive

Lack of confidence about a language can cause people to hold back, which makes cross-cultural communication even harder. Encourage your listener to carry on regardless of mistakes. You’ll both get there in the end.