PPT PPT Module Module 33 Communicating Communicating Across AcrossCultures Cultures McGraw-Hill/Irwin ©2007, The McGraw-Hill Companies, All Rights 3-2 Communicating Communicating Across Across Cultures Cultures ♦To learn how to Continue to analyze your audiences Begin to adapt your message to your audiences Begin to understand what your organization wants 3-3 Communicating Communicating Across Across Cultures Cultures Start by answering these questions: Who is my audience? Why is audience so important? What I need to know about my audience(s)? 3-4 Communicating Communicating Across Across Cultures Cultures Start by answering these questions: Now that I have my analysis, what I with it? What if my audiences have different needs? How I reach my audience(s)? 3-5 Diversity Diversity and and Culture Culture Basics Basics ♦ Diversity has always been with us— even if people didn’t recognize it or its value ♦ There is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to working with cultural differences Use the information in this module as guidelines, not rules set in stone Remember that people are individuals as well as members of groups ♦ Be open to change and difference 3-6 Diversity Diversity in in the the Workplace Workplace ♦ Gender ♦ Race and ethnicity ♦ Regional and national origin ♦ Social class ♦ Religion ♦ Age ♦ Sexual orientation ♦ Physical ability 3-7 Diversity Diversity in in the the Workplace Workplace ♦High-Context Cultures Most information is inferred from the context of a message Little is “spelled out.” Examples: Japanese, Arabic, and Latin American cultures 3-8 Diversity Diversity in in the the Workplace Workplace continued continued ♦Low-Context Cultures Context is less important than words Most information is spelled out; words are privileged Examples: German, Scandinavian, and dominant U.S cultures 3-9 Diversity Diversity in in the the Workplace Workplace continued continued ♦Remember In nations like the U.S., Canada, and Brazil, multiple cultures exist While the dominant culture may be privileged, recognize that minority cultures may have different norms with regard to behavior 3-10 Dimensions Dimensions of of Culture Culture ♦ Values, Beliefs, and Practices ♦ Nonverbal Communication ♦ Body Language ♦ Eye Contact ♦ Gestures ♦ Space ♦ Spatial Arrangements ♦ Time ♦ Dress ♦ Colors ♦ Height ♦ Oral Communication ♦ Understatement, Exaggeration, and Silence 3-11 Conversational Conversational Style Style ♦ How long a pause tells you that it’s your turn to speak? ♦ Do you see interruption as rude? ♦ Do you show interest by asking lots of questions? 3-12 Communicating Communicating with with Different Different Cultures Cultures ♦Brenda Arbaleez suggests being Aware that values and behaviors are influenced by culture Flexible Sensitive Aware of the others’ values, beliefs, and practices Sensitive to differences among individuals 3-13 Ways Ways to to Make Make Language Language Nonsexist Nonsexist ♦Use Words that treat both sexes respectfully Titles that not imply one sex “ought” to a certain job The appropriate gender pronoun when referring to a specific person 3-14 Ways Ways to to Make Make Language Language Nonsexist Nonsexist continued continued ♦ Use “Ms.” As the courtesy title for a woman unless • The woman has a professional title • You know that a woman prefers to be addressed by a traditional title 3-15 Ways Ways to to Make Make Language Language Nonsexist Nonsexist continued continued ♦When you write about anyone who may be in a job or position, make pronouns nonsexist Use plurals Use you Revise the sentence to omit the pronoun Use pronoun pairs 3-16 Ways Ways to to Make Make Language Language Nonracist Nonracist ♦Eliminate adjectives that reinforce negative stereotypes Biased: The motivated black students were assigned to internship positions throughout the company Bias-free: The students were assigned to internship positions throughout the company Ways Ways to to Make Make Language Language Nonracist Nonracist continued continued ♦Identify race or ethnic origin only if it’s relevant Biased: Paloma Esteban, a Latino, has been appointed Vice-President of Finance Bias-free: Mike Waters, a Sioux, translated the governor’s speech into the Lakota language 3-17 Ways Ways to to Make Make Language Language Nonracist Nonracist continued continued ♦Eliminate words and phrases with negative connotations Biased: Many of our managers who come from culturally deprived backgrounds now function as role models for young people through our mentoring program 3-18 Ways Ways to to Make Make Language Language Nonracist Nonracist continued continued Bias-free: Many of our managers whose family heritage is African, Asian, or Spanish now function as role models for young people through our mentoring program 3-19 3-20 Talking Talking about about People People with with Diseases Diseases or or Disabilities Disabilities ♦Use “people first” language and avoid using adjectives as nouns Biased: • the alcoholic • the drug addict • the handicapped Bias-free: • the woman who is an alcoholic • the man who abuses drugs • people with disabilities 3-21 Talking Talking about about People People with with Diseases Diseases or or Disabilities Disabilities continued continued ♦Emphasize people’s abilities, not their limits or disabilities Biased: Jenny Ling has done an outstanding job as our spokesperson, even though she has diabetes Bias-free: Jenny Ling has done an outstanding job as our spokesperson for the past seven years Ways Ways to to Make Make Language Language Nonagist Nonagist ♦Refer to age only if it’s truly relevant Biased: Tomoko Watanabe, 67, is president of Competitive Data Management Bias-free: Tomoko Watanabe is president of Competitive Data Management 3-22 Ways Ways to to Make Make Language Language Nonagist Nonagist continued continued ♦Avoid stereotypes Biased: With her grandmotherly ways, good old Mary Grace makes everyone in Unit feel special Bias-free: For the past 35 years, Mary Grace has been helping to create team spirit in Unit 3-23 Ways Ways to to Make Make Language Language Nonagist Nonagist continued continued ♦Avoid negative labels for children, such as “children from broken homes.” ♦Remember families can be singleparent and diverse ♦Use nonsexist descriptions and images of children 3-24 3-25 Bias Bias Free Free Photos Photos and and Illustrations Illustrations ♦Check visuals for bias Are the people diverse? Are power relationships balanced? Can you create your own visuals rather than rely on biased clip art? ... audiences Begin to understand what your organization wants 3- 3 Communicating Communicating Across Across Cultures Cultures Start by answering these questions: Who is my audience? Why is... and behaviors are influenced by culture Flexible Sensitive Aware of the others’ values, beliefs, and practices Sensitive to differences among individuals 3- 13 Ways Ways to to Make Make... makes everyone in Unit feel special Bias-free: For the past 35 years, Mary Grace has been helping to create team spirit in Unit 3- 23 Ways Ways to to Make Make Language Language Nonagist Nonagist