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Culture significantly impacts how people communicate, driven by shared beliefs, values, and norms. This chapter explores various cultural factors—including race, nationality, age, and socioeconomic status—that shape communication styles. It contrasts formal and informal behaviors across cultures, examines approaches to time and conflict, and discusses generational influences. With insights into high-context and low-context cultures, as well as individualistic and collectivistic tendencies, readers will gain a deeper understanding of effective cross-cultural communication strategies.
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Communication, Culture, and Work Chapter 2
What is culture? • Culture for most people is people from different national backgrounds. • However, we will define culture as a learned set of shared interpretations about beliefs, values, and norms, which affect the behaviors of a relatively large group of people.
Common Cultural Factors that can Shape Communication • Race/ethnicity • Nationality/geographic region • Age • Physical ability/disability • Socioeconomic status • Gender identity • Language
Cultural Differences in Doing Business • Formality • U.S. tends to be informal compared to almost all other countries • Social Customs • Greetings • Exchange of business cards • Gift giving • Styles of dress • Conservative dress
Cultural differences • Time • Monochronic time-appointments are scheduled and adhered to. Tasks are performed one at a time in order. United States, North America, and Northern Europe. • Polychronic time-time takes a backseat to personal relationships. Meetings last as long as they last, varying degrees of lateness are acceptable. Mexico, Southern Europe, Middle East, and Africa
Cultural differences • Conflict styles • U.S. businesspeople tend to be more aggressive, Mexican businesspeople tend to be more harmonious • Gender Roles • Asian and Muslim cultures tend to regard women as inferior and will omit them from conversation even if the woman outranks a man
High-Context vs Low-Context • High-context cultures rely heavily on subtle, often nonverbal cues to convey meaning, save face, and maintain social harmony. Japan, Korea • Low-context cultures use language primarily to express thoughts, feelings, and ideas as clearly and logically as possible. United States, Canada
Individualistic vs Collectivistic • Individualistic cultures are inclined to put their own interests and those of their immediate family ahead of social concerns. United States, New Zealand, Canada • Collectivistic cultures have tight social frameworks in which members feel loyalty toward one another and the group to which they belong. Pakistan, Indonesia, Venezuela
Generations • Matures (1900-1945) strong sense of self-control, respect for authority, loyal to the organizations they belong to • Boomers (1946-1964) optimistic, can do belief in themselves and in the potential for positive change within organizations and society
Generations • Generation X (1965-1982) independent, seeking work/life balance, loyal to people not organizations • Generation Y (1982-1991) hopeful, determined, can shift attention rapidly from task to task, may ignore what doesn’t interest them
Disabilities • Americans with Disabilities Act(1990) seeks to guarantee that people with disabilities receive reasonable accommodations and equal access to employment, buildings, transportation and services.
Interacting with people with disabilities • Speak directly to people with disabilities • Offer to shake hands • If you offer assistance, wait until it is accepted and the LISTEN to directions • Treat adults as adults • Listen attentively • Relax
Attitudes about Cultural Differences • Denial-no perception of differences • Defense-hostility toward other cultures • Minimization-belief that cultural differences are superficial • Acceptance-recognition and exploration of differences • Adaptation-ability to empathize, shift frame of reference • Integration-recognizing and embracing differences
Communicating across Cultures • Become culturally literate-
