Cross-Cultural Communication
Being familiar with cross-cultural communication doesn’t just imply having a vague or rudimentary idea of what the expression “cross-cultural communication” means and how it works. In order to become an IEP, an interculturally effective person, you need to understand the concept of cross-cultural communication with all its components and be able to translate it into action.
Cross-Cultural Communication: An Introduction
Whole books have been written on cross-cultural communication; it has even become a popular academic subject. Cross-cultural communication is hardly rocket science, though. Our introduction to intercultural communication attempts a basic definition of cross-cultural communication and explains the idea behind it, with a focus on illustrating the importance of cross-cultural communication for expats. We have included case studies to show how you as an expat can profit from a knowledge of cross-cultural communication and how you can put it into practice. Cross-cultural communication in a business context, while being based on the same principles, requires some additional analysis and preparation. Our article on cross-cultural training for business purposes focuses on giving business presentations to an international audience. By pointing out some common international business issues and showing you how to analyze your audience and their expectations effectively, they touch upon an important aspect of cross-cultural communication.
Cross-Cultural Communication Skills
Just like cross-cultural communication, intercultural competence seems like an empty phrase to many. There are considerable numbers of people, expats even, who fail to acknowledge its relevance to their lives. This doesn’t automatically mean they don’t perform well in an international setting, where cross-cultural communication skills are usually in great demand. However, a clear idea of what intercultural competence is and how it manifests itself might come in handy one day, even if you are a natural cross-cultural communicator. Intercultural competence is a skill that can be acquired like most other skills. Once you’ve admitted to yourself that your cross-cultural communication ability might lack the final polish and that there’s room for improvement, you’re already half-way there. Don’t stop here, however. Read our articles on intercultural competence, cultural awareness and cultural intelligence to find out what you could do better when dealing with people from different countries. Cross-cultural communication expertise is always a bonus!
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