Imagine a company operating across different time zones with offices in distant corners of the world. It’s important for them to be mindful of the fact that their staff belongs to different cultures, which, after all, affects the way these workers communicate. That’s where multicultural communication comes in! One study shows that 3 out of 4 workers deem diversity an important factor when considering new job offers online. This statistic alone shows the importance of intercultural communication in modern workplaces and businesses. A productive workforce needs to respect each other’s culture if they wish to collaborate efficiently; communicating effectively across cultures is the top requirement here.
In this article, we’ll explore the key role cross-cultural communication plays in opening your company’s gateways to global marketplaces. If you wish to harness the true potential of remote workers, then you need to overcome not merely language barriers in communication but also cultural ones. Let’s see how cross-cultural communication can become a reality in your workplace.
Cultural Differences in Workplaces: Examples and Case Study
You may wonder how to implement cross-cultural communication for corporate success in a globalized marketplace. Which language strategy can help improve communication across cultures? We’ll explain it all in the next section. First, let’s review some examples of cultural differences in workplaces and why cultural sensitivity is important to foster a sense of friendship among your multicultural workers.
Why is Cross-Cultural Communication Important?
Many Americans live in Europe, and 200,000 US expats reside in the UK alone. Different studies reveal that workplaces in the US and the EU are different from each other. For instance, the business culture in the US is fast-paced, open and direct, and entrepreneurial. From a British worker’s perspective, however, the American business culture is casual and informal. Some other studies state that:
| Region | Valued Traits |
| North America | Caring Purpose Results |
| European Union | Safety Environment Order/Authority |
Another study was conducted to notice the differences between the Chinese and Swedish management styles. It revealed that Chinese offices have centralized management; workers expect their boss to make all the decisions while being emotionally distant from their subordinates. In Swedish offices, employees work with decentralized management; managers strive for consensus in decision-making and stay equal to their subordinates. You can see how integrating two teams working in China and Sweden respectively isn’t possible without overcoming cultural differences.
Similarly, German businesses focus on brief working hours, respect for hierarchy, formal communication (something Germans are infamously known!), hardcore punctuality, and not discussing their private life with coworkers that much. If you want to integrate your American workforce well with that of Germany, it’s important to cross the language barrier first. Work with professional translators and make sure that you invest in accurate German to English grammar translation to facilitate communication.
Some other examples of cultural differences in different parts of the world are:
- Calling coworkers by their first name or surname
- Pointing with your finger when giving nonverbal directions
- The mode of socialization (karaoke bars in Japan or saunas in Finland)
- The importance of hospitality when negotiating terms with business partners (like in China)
You must be mindful of these differences to make cross-cultural communication a reality in your office.
Case Study: Netflix vs. eBay
Many companies have tried to enter foreign marketplaces but failed simply because they failed to grasp the key concept of cultural sensitivity. We always like to quote the example of KFC’s “finger-lickin’ good” disaster in China because they didn’t realize that licking one’s fingers after finishing a hearty meal wasn’t a part of the local culture. Similarly, eBay’s colossal failure in China in the early 2000s stemmed from the fact that, in China:
- Community leaders and influencers play a major role in product discovery among consumers
- Collective purchases with better deals are more common in China, unlike fixed prices in the West
Sadly, eBay ignored these intricacies of the Chinese consumer market and couldn’t meet Jack Ma’s rising influence. However, Netflix learned from its predecessors’ mistakes and embraced the fine art of cross-cultural communication. Netflix ensures that its platform:
- Producing original content for local cultures
- Providing localized translation and subtitles
- Offering a localized interface to viewers
You can also reap the same benefits of multicultural communication in your workplace. It’s a great way to communicate effectively with your workers and customers. Let’s explain how in the next section.
Embracing Cross-Cultural Communication: Tips and Strategies
Suppose you are visiting another country and need to get your documents translated into the language spoken there. For instance, you may require birth certificate translation and rewording your passport. In all these cases, translation makes it communication easier with a foreign audience.
Just like that, you’ll have to embrace cross-cultural communication to bridge the gap between your two teams stationed in different parts of the world. Whether you communicate with employees or clients, it is important to be culturally sensitive and not only translate but also localize your message.
Here’s how you can do both of these things without missing the beat:
Learn the Etiquette
In business meetings, learning the other group’s cultural norms and values can be really helpful. In some cultures, for instance, meetings are supposed to be formal with a hierarchical structure. Other cultures may have room for informalities and casual chitchat. In some cases, even being a second late to a meet-up can be seen as rudeness. Similarly, gift-giving can be seen differently in different parts of the world; in some cultures, gift-giving is appreciated, while others may deem it as a form of bribery.
Do Nonverbal Communication the Right Way
A very simple example of how nonverbal communication is different in different parts of the world is the “eye contact” example. For instance, maintaining eye contact is common in Western cultures. In Asiatic countries, however, maintaining direct eye contact with the speaker is deemed disrespectful. That’s why you should always familiarize yourself with these traditions when communicating cross-culturally.
Ask and Don’t Assume
Whether you’re managing different teams stationed in various parts of the world or negotiating with an investor from another country, never assume someone’s likes/dislikes. It’s important to always ask and be ready to learn. Making generalizations about a certain culture can lead to more problems, or you may end up offending the other person. Also, take time to build rapport with your remote workers, business partners, stakeholders, and other key personnel. You can do that by:
- Engaging in small talk
- Sharing meals with each other
- Talking about shared hobbies/interests
Hopefully, these tips will help you engage in cross-cultural communication smartly. Don’t forget to make use of translation apps and services to get your message across. But don’t blindly use translation tools as they may end up mistranslating the contents of your message.
Final Words
Facilitating cross-cultural communication in the workplace can be a great step toward embracing diversity. A study states that over 50% of top unicorn founders in the US are either immigrants or second-generation immigrants; it’s evidence that diversity leads to innovation, turning startups into multinational firms and small-time entrepreneurs into major trendsetters. It’s all about going beyond the language barrier.
You can reach out to agencies like TranslateSwift to do cross-cultural communication right. Get in touch with experienced translators to localize your business content for a globalized marketplace. Translators get your message across to a diverse audience and make you stand out in a multicultural economy.
Don’t hesitate to order an accurate translation today and ensure that your marketing content doesn’t have anything that might attract a foreign audience. It’s easy when you’re working with professionals!
FAQs – Cross-Cultural Communication in Business
What are the key principles of cross-cultural communication?
The key principles of cross-cultural communication are mutual respect, accepting diversity, and cultural awareness. Nurture a sense of cultural sensitivity when dealing with your workers and clients.
How do I embrace cross-cultural awareness as a remote team manager?
Learn about your remote team’s cultural values and traditions. Be mindful of the way they prefer to stay in touch and communicate. Also, learn about any major religious/cultural that might affect their routine or schedule.
How can language barriers in cross-cultural communication be overcome?
Provide language training for employee so they can learn to communicate with their coworkers sitting in different parts of the world. Also, use translation services to facilitate this communication.
