Intercultural Communication in Organization: How to Improve It?

Globalization and technology have brought people from diverse cultural backgrounds together in offices and organizations. As a result, workplaces today are more culturally diverse than ever before. But in the international business world where effective communication is the key to organizational success, cultural diversity and differences have widened the communication gaps.

Know Your Team Members

There’s no way to thrive in a diverse workplace other than to study different cultures. Without understanding the cultural, social backgrounds and differences, you’ll have a hard time getting your ideas across to an individual from a different culture.

Thanks to the internet and online communities, learning about various cultures and their differences has never been easier. Understanding cultural differences is the first step towards improving your skills.

Focus on Non-Verbal Communication

For having a great interaction with a group of culturally diverse people, non-verbal communication is as important as the verbal one. However, gestures and actions have different meanings in different cultures.

Whenever communicating with an individual or a group of people, it’s not necessary that your gestures will be perceived as you want them to be. Therefore, it’s advised to be aware and pay attention to non-verbal communication in the organisation.

Warm Work Environment

Creating a friendly environment at the workplace is one of the day-to-day management problems managers face, especially when there are individuals from diverse communities and social groups with each having a new identity.

Using intercultural management tools can ease the process of understanding and communicating with one another, which can make a warm environment at your workplace.

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The Importance of Cross-Cultural Communication

The best way to bridge the cultural gap between individuals from different cultures is by understanding and using intercultural communication tools. The new theories and research have further enabled the implementation of intercultural communication. In this article, we will discuss the importance of cross-cultural organizational communication and ways to create an environment where people from every culture can communicate and work with one another.

Importance of Intercultural Communication in Organizations

Here’s why cultural communication is important in any global business organization.

Better Productivity and Results

It’s no secret that communication has direct effects on the productivity and results of any team or organization. Through effective intercultural communication, it’s possible to smoothen the work relations and improve organizational performance.

How to Improve Intercultural Communication in an Organization?

In any business organization, it’s important to understand each culture, cultural differences, and social background of individuals and groups. Let’s look at some ways and tools to aid intercultural communication in an international business organization.

Use Clear Language and Ask Questions

Clarity is one of the foremost tools of effective intercultural and cross-cultural communication. Use clear, formal language and avoid idioms, slang, and jokes to ensure positive communication. This way you can ensure you’re not offending or confusing the listener as idioms and humor vary from culture to culture.

Encourage More Individual Interaction

Good management of intercultural communication in organizations goes a long way towards improving their bottom line. Managers who want to facilitate intercultural communication in their organizations should encourage interaction between individuals from diverse social and cultural backgrounds. This way your staff members can learn about one another’s cultures, their similarities, and differences.

Apart from individual interaction, letting groups or communities communicate will help them work as a team. One of the smart ways to do so is to conduct induction sessions of new recruits so employees can get acquainted with one another. Mastering cross-cultural communication management skills will enable managers to contribute towards organizational success.

Granted the importance of intercultural and cross-cultural communication in the international business world, Marc Prager Conseil conducts communication workshops and group training to help managers and colleagues to communicate and work with culturally diverse people. Get in touch with us to improve the intercultural communication skills of your staff members.

FAQ

What challenges do employees face when communicating across cultures in a global business environment?

They often struggle with differing communication styles and cultural norms, expectations, and assumptions, leading to misunderstandings, reduced trust, and slower collaboration across multicultural teams. This diversity can affect intercultural communication, especially when employees have varying levels of language skills and cultural awareness. Training in communication methods is essential in the workplace to bridge these intercultural barriers and improve overall interpersonal relations. By enhancing their ability to communicate effectively, managers can foster a more inclusive work environment where cultural differences are acknowledged and valued.

How can leaders encourage excellent intercultural communication to build a cohesive workplace culture?

Leaders foster intercultural communication by modeling curiosity, promoting inclusive dialogue, offering cultural awareness training, and creating safe spaces for various perspectives. In the workplace, good communication is crucial, especially in an environment where employees come from various cultural backgrounds. By embracing cultural differences and understanding nonverbal cues, leaders can enhance the ability of their teams to navigate complex interactions. This approach not only improves workplace communication but also increases the effectiveness of collaboration among employees.

Find out more about intercultural management in organisations

This article has been written by Marc Prager.