“…one of the world’s most significant problems:

intercultural relations…”

Edward T. Hall
1. The Nature of Intercultural Communication

2. Dominant Cultural Orientations

3. Domains of Cultural Differences

4. Steps Towards Effective Communication

Intercultural communication is:

communication between at least two people from

different cultures.
 Increasing interaction between people due to
globalization

 Increasing diversity in workplaces

 Increasing need to develop caring, responsible and

ethical business leaders
 National cultures
 Social groups
 Ethnic groups
 Genders
 Age or generational groups

(and more…)
 If intercultural communication is communication between
at least two people from different cultures…

◦ ALL communication between people is essentially intercultural.

◦ Different types of cultures shape communication.

◦ Caring, responsible and ethical business leaders must be effective

intercultural communicators.
1. How contexting affects communication
2) How face-saving affects communication
3) How the individual is viewed in relation to the group
4) How time is perceived
5) How power is distributed
6) How decisions are made
Reminder: cultural orientations are NOT dichotomies; they are
tendencies.
 Choice of words

 Organization of messages
 Body language

 Eye contact

 Laughter
 Touch

 Tone, volume and

speed

 Turn-taking and
silence
 PART IV

STEP TOWARDS EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

 Develop a sense of cultural awareness

 Do not be ethnocentric

 Listen genuinely when others speak

 Do not lapse into your own language while in the
presence of others who do not speak it

 Take responsibility for the communication (e.g., if

miscommunication happens, it is not always the other person’s fault)

 DO NOT STEREOTYPE
Intercultural communication:

 respects people as part of a group AND as

individuals.

 is not about interaction between national cultures

only.
Intercultural competence:

 helps you deliver your messages clearly,

appropriately and persuasively.

 enables you, as a business leader, to contribute to

a just and equitable world.
THANK YOU!

Q&A