Communications Question

Introduction

Employers look for both hard skills (knowledge, abilities, skillsets) and soft skills when hiring employees.  Soft skills are personal characteristics that demonstrate the ability to work well with others and communicate effectively.  This assignment will assist students in identifying and describing their professional communication strengths based on the information provided in Unit 1.

ULOs

Explain the importance of effective communication to your career and to the workplace.

Explain what it means to communicate as a professional in a business context.

Once you have developed a list of four attributes for each category, weave the attributes into a coherent and concise summary for each category.  Students will use the paragraphs as a basis for career documents later in the course.

Example

Thinking and Problem-Solving Attributes:

Communicates in an ethical manner

Uses technology tools productively

Demonstrates digital information fluency

Provides content focused feedback constructively

Business Communication Today
Fifteenth Edition
Chapter 1
Professional Communication in a
Digital, Social, Mobile World
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Learning Objectives (1 of 2)
1.1 Explain the importance of effective communication to
your career and to the companies where you will work.
1.2 Explain what it means to communicate as a professional
in a business context.
1.3 Contrast the conventional communication process
model with the social communication model.
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Learning Objectives (2 of 2)
1.4 Identify five major benefits of business communication
technology and three major innovations that are
reshaping the practice of communication.
1.5 Define ethics, explain the difference between an ethical
dilemma and an ethical lapse, and list five guidelines for
making ethical communication choices.
1.6 Identify six related skills that you will have the
opportunity to develop as you work on your
communication skills in this course.
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Understanding Why Communication Matters
• LO 1.1 Explain the importance of effective communication
to your career and to the companies where you will work.
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Communication is Important to Your Career
• Your career will give you the opportunity to communicate,
collaborate and share ideas with many people, both inside
and outside your organization
• You may be an employee, executive, consultant or
freelancer to a company
• You may become an entrepreneur
• In all these roles, communication skills may be the single
most important skill you possess
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Figure 1.1 Sharing Information
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Communication is Important to Your Company
• Aside from personal benefits, communication should be
important to you because it is important to your company in
three essential areas:
– Operations
– Intelligence
– Relationships
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What Makes Business Communication
Effective?
• Provide practical information
• Give facts rather than vague impressions
• Present information in a concise, efficient manner
• Clarify expectations and responsibilities
• Offer compelling, persuasive arguments and
recommendations
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Communicating as a Professional
• LO 1.2 Explain what it means to communicate as a
professional in a business context.
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Understanding What Employers Expect
From You
• Acquiring, processing, and sharing information.
• Using communication to foster positive working
relationships.
• Representing your employer in the public arena.
• Efficiently using the tools that your employer provides.
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Elements of Professionalism
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Communicating in an Organizational
Context (1 of 2)
• Every organization has a formal communication network
– Downward communication
– Upward communication
– Horizontal or lateral communication
• Every organization also has an informal communication
network
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Communicating in an Organizational
Context (2 of 2)
Figure 1.4 Formal Communication Network
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Adopting an Audience-Centered Approach
• Focus on the “You” Attitude
– Emotional Intelligence
– Business Etiquette
– What is important to your audience?
▪ Biases
▪ Education, Age, and Status
▪ Style
▪ Personal and Professional Concerns
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Exploring the Communication Process
• LO 1.3 Contrast the conventional communication process
model with the social communication model.
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The Conventional Communication Model
Figure 1.5 The Conventional Communication Process
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Barriers in the Communication Environment
• Noise and distractions
• Competing messages
• Filters
• Channel breakdowns
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Inside the Mind of Your Audience
• How Audiences Receive Messages
• How Audiences Decode Messages
• How Audiences Respond to Messages
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How Audiences Receive Messages
• Consider audience expectations
• Make messages user-friendly
• Emphasize familiarity
• Practice empathy
• Design for compatibility
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How Audiences Decode Messages
• Perception
• Selective Perception
• Cultural Beliefs
• Personal Beliefs
• Individual Thinking Styles
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How Audiences Respond to Messages
• Must Remember Message
• Must Be Able to Respond As You Wish
• Must Be Motivated to Respond
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Figure 1.6 How Shared Experience Affects
Understanding
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Figure 1.7 The Social Communication
Model
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Using Technology to Improve Communication
• LO 1.4 Identify five major benefits of business
communication technology and three major innovations
that are reshaping the practice of communication.
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The Potential Benefits of Communication
Technology
• Greater effectiveness
• Greater efficiency
• Better and easier research
• Improved decision making
• Fewer barriers
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Effective Use of Technology
• Keep technology in perspective
• Guard against information overload
• Use your tools wisely
• Use your tools efficiently
• Reconnect with people
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The Spectrum of Contemporary
Communication Technology
• Social and Workgroup Communication Systems
• Mobile Communication
• Intelligent Communication Technology
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Social and Workgroup Communication
Systems
• Social media are digital platforms that empower
stakeholders as participants in the communication process.
– Share content
– Revise content
– Respond to content
– Contribute new content
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Mobile Communication
• Greater flexibility
• Enhance productivity and collaboration
• More engaging experiences for customers and other users
Rather than an extension of a traditional work computer,
mobile devices can be the primary interface that connects
employees to the company’s information networks.
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Intelligent Communication Technology
• Artificial intelligence to enhance the communication
process.
• Machine learning and deep learning
• Natural language processing
• Computer vision
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Committing to Ethical and Legal
Communication
• LO 1.5 Define ethics, explain the difference between an
ethical dilemma and an ethical lapse, and list five
guidelines for making ethical communication choices.
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Ethical Communication
Ethics are the accepted principles of right and wrong that
govern behavior and decision making within a society.
• Includes all relevant information
• Is true in every sense
• Is not deceptive in any way
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Forms of Unethical Communication
• Withholding information
• Distorting information
• Plagiarizing
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Distinguishing Ethical Dilemmas from
Ethical Lapses
Ethical Dilemmas
Ethical Lapses
Choosing among alternatives that are
not clear-cut
Clearly unethical choice
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Ensuring Ethical Communication
• Three Elements
– Ethical individuals
– Ethical company leadership
– Appropriate policies and structures
▪ Code of Ethics
▪ Ethics Audits
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Ensuring Legal Communication
• Laws and Regulations Govern
– Promotional communication
– Contracts
– Employment communication
– Intellectual property
– Financial reporting
– Defamation
– Transparency requirements
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Developing Skills for Your Career
• LO 1.6 Identify six related skills that you will have the
opportunity to develop as you work on your communication
skills in this course.
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Skills Experts Say Are Vital for Success
• Critical Thinking
• Collaboration
• Knowledge application and analysis
• Business ethics and social responsibility
• Information technology skills
• Data literacy
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Copyright
This work is protected by United States copyright laws and
is provided solely for the use of instructors in teaching their
courses and assessing student learning. Dissemination or
sale of any part of this work (including on the World Wide
Web) will destroy the integrity of the work and is not
permitted. The work and materials from it should never be
made available to students except by instructors using the
accompanying text in their classes. All recipients of this
work are expected to abide by these restrictions and to
honor the intended pedagogical purposes and the needs of
other instructors who rely on these materials.
Copyright © 2021, 2018, 2016 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Business Communication Today
Fifteenth Edition
Chapter 2
Collaboration, Interpersonal
Communication, and Business
Etiquette
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Learning Objectives (1 of 2)
2.1 Describe the characteristics of effective teams, outline
five steps for resolving team conflict, and offer advice on
working in virtual teams.
2.2 Offer guidelines for collaborative communication, explain
what it means to give constructive feedback, and identify
major collaboration technologies.
2.3 List the key steps needed to ensure productive meetings.
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Learning Objectives (2 of 2)
2.4 Explain why listening is such a complex communication
process, and describe three steps to becoming a better
listener.
2.5 Explain the importance of nonverbal communication, and
identify six major categories of nonverbal expression.
2.6 Explain the importance of business etiquette, and identify
five key areas in which good etiquette is essential.
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Communicating Effectively in Teams
• LO 2.1 Describe the characteristics of effective teams,
outline five steps for resolving team conflict, and offer
advice on working in virtual teams.
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Types of Teams
A team is a unit of two or more people who share a mission and the
responsibility for working to achieve a common goal.
Type
Characteristics
Committee
A permanent team established to address recurring issues, such
as corporate governance or workplace safety
Problemsolving
Team assembled to analyze a problem or issue, recommend a
solution and, in some cases, implement the solution; sometimes
referred to as a task force
Project
Team assembled to complete a specific project, such as a new
product launch or installation of a new computer system
Creative
Similar to project teams but used in fields such as advertising
and web design; combines the efforts of various creative
professionals and may work on a series of projects together
Crossfunctional
Pulls together people from across multiple departments or
functional areas; the best way to tackle companywide issues or
opportunities but can be challenging to manage
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Advantages of Teams
• Increased information and knowledge
• Learning opportunities
• Boldness
• Accountability
• Trust building
• Broader range of viewpoints
• Buy-in for solutions the team creates
• Improved performance
• A sense of community in good times and bad
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Disadvantages of Teams
• Groupthink
• Hidden Agendas
• Cost
• Overload
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Characteristics of Effective Teams
• Shared sense of purpose
• Clear and challenging goal
• Belief in the value of efforts
• Well-balanced mix of people and skills
• Appropriate size
• Psychological safety
• Willingness to put team needs first
• Open and honest communication
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Group Dynamics
• Team Roles
• Stages of Team Development
• Resolving Conflict in Teams
• Conflict Resolution Skills
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Stages of Team Development
Sources: Stephen P. Robbins and Mary Coulter, Management, 14th ed. (New York: Prentice Hall, 2018), 418–419; Denise
Bonebright, “40 Years of Storming: A Historical Review of Tuckman’s Model of Small Group Development,” Human
Resource Development International 29, 13, no. 1 (February 2010): 111–120.
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Resolving Conflict in Teams
• Decide if the conflict is worth addressing
• Examine your own beliefs and behaviors
• Identify where the conflict truly originates
• Establish common ground
• Choose a strategy for resolving the difference
– Avoid
– Accommodate
– Compromise
– Collaborate
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Virtual Teams
• Pull together the best people for a task
• Take advantage of the benefits of telecommuting
• Increase engagement and productivity
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Benefits and Challenges of Virtual Teamwork
• Multiple studies show that successful virtual teams can be
more effective, more engaged, and more productive than
co-located teams.
• However
– Virtual teams rely on technology
– Interpersonal communication is constant challenge
– Distance and separation
– Miss out on random interaction
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Tips for Success in Virtual Team Environments
• Keep teams as small as possible
• Use the best collaboration technology available
• Clarify the purpose of each tool
• Take special care with isolated members
• Don’t rely solely on written communication
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Collaborating on Communication Efforts
• LO 2.2 Offer guidelines for collaborative communication,
explain what it means to give constructive feedback, and
identify major collaboration technologies.
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Collaboration Arrangements
• Writer-Editor Relationships
• Full Collaboration
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Guidelines for Collaborative Writing
• Goals are clear and agreed on
• Determine how work will be done
• Take advantage of each person’s strengths
• Establish clear and frequent checkpoints
• Appreciate different writing styles
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Giving and Responding to Constructive Feedback
• Constructive feedback focusing on process and outcomes
of communication
• Destructive feedback is little more than complaining
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Giving Constructive Feedback
How to Be Constructive
Explanation
Think through your
suggested changes
carefully.
Many business documents must illustrate complex relationships between
ideas and other information, so isolated and superficial edits can do
more harm than good.
Discuss improvements
rather than flaws.
Instead of saying “this is confusing,” for instance, explain how the writing
can be improved to make it clearer.
Focus on controllable
behavior.
The writer may not have control over every variable that affects the
quality of the message, so focus on those aspects the writer can control.
Be specific.
Comments such as “I don’t get this” or “Make this clearer” don’t give the
writer much direction.
Keep feedback
impersonal.
Focus comments on the message, not on the person who created it.
Verify understanding.
If in doubt, ask for confirmation from the recipient to make sure that the
person understood your feedback.
Time your feedback
carefully.
Respond in a timely fashion so that the writer will have sufficient time to
implement the changes you suggest.
Highlight any limitations
your feedback may have.
If you didn’t have time to give the document a thorough edit, or if you’re
not an expert in some aspect of the content, let the writer know so that
he or she can handle your comments appropriately.
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Technologies for Collaborative Communication
• Collaboration Systems
– Content Management Systems
– Wikis
– Shared Online Workspaces
– Social Network
– Workgroup Messaging Systems
– Private Networks
• Collaboration via Mobile Devices
• AI-Enabled Collaboration
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Figure 2.2 Shared Online Workspaces
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Figure 2.3 Collaboration on Mobile Devices
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Making Your Meetings More Productive
• LO 2.3 List the key steps needed to ensure productive
meetings.
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Preparing for Meetings
• Define the Meeting’s Purpose
• Select Participants
• Choose Time and Venue
• Set the Agenda
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Leading and Contributing to Efficient Meetings
• Keep the Discussion on Track
• Follow Agreed-on Rules
• Encourage and Moderate Participation
• Participate Actively
• Don’t Interrupt
• Use Mobile Devices Respectfully
• Close Effectively
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Figure 2.5 Effective Meeting Agenda
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Figure 2.6 Effective Meeting Agenda: Condensed
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Putting Meeting Results to Productive Use
• Minutes
– Summary of important information presented and
decisions made
– Include responsibilities as assigned
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Figure 2.7 Effective Meeting Minutes
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Figure 2.8 Capturing Key Decisions and
Discoveries from a Meeting
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Conducting Virtual Meeting
• Virtual Meeting Systems
– Telepresence
– Holograms
– Teleconferencing
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Tips for Successful Virtual Meetings (1 of 2)
• Establish well-defined task and goal
• Provide pre-study materials in addition to agenda
• Assign people to specific roles
• Ensure up-to-date software tools
• Introduce group members
• Explain how to ask questions
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Tips for Successful Virtual Meetings (2 of 2)
• Log in on time
• Be present, mentally and emotionally
• Mute audio input when not speaking
• Reduce noise from typing and keyboard use
• Summarize agenda item before moving on
• Periodically check and include each person in the group
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Improving Your Listening Skills
• LO 2.4 Explain why listening is such a complex
communication process, and describe three steps to
becoming a better listener.
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Understanding Why Listening is Such a
Complex Process
• The Unique Challenges of Listening
• Choices and Behaviors that Affect Listening Quality
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Factors that Complicate the Listening Process
Unique Challenges of Listening
Individual Choices and Behaviors
Real-time experience
Conversation is consumed as it is created; you
can’t scroll back in time like you can with written
communication.
Invisibility
You can’t see spoken language, so you have no
visual record to refer to if you get lost or
confused.
Sound-to-language conversion
Incoming sounds must be converted to language
before your mind can begin to process what is
being said. Mumbling, strong accents, and
ambient noise can all complicate this process.
Poor self-management
Listeners need to actively manage their own
emotions during a conversation; otherwise, these
distractions will get in the way.
Idle brain power
The mind can process information several times
faster than people can talk, and if listeners don’t
harness that extra processing power, their minds
are likely to wander.
Ineffective listening style
Different conversations call for different styles of
listening, and using an inappropriate style can
hamper a conversational exchange.
Barriers
Listeners need to take steps to minimize barriers
in their listening environment in order to reduce
interruptions and distractions.
Flawed recall
If listeners don’t record or actively memorize
essential information during a conversation,
chances are they will forget or confuse important
details.
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Choices and Behaviors That Affect
Listening Quality
• Poor self-management
• Idle brain power
• Ineffective listening style
• Barriers to physical reception
• Flawed recall
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Becoming a Better Listener
• Minimize the Barriers to Effective Listening
• Adapt Your Listening Style to the Situation
• Listen actively
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Three Styles of Listening
Listening Style
Goal
Content listening
Understand and retain the information the other party is
sharing
Critical listening
Understand and evaluate the information in terms of
logical arguments, strength of evidence, validity of
conclusions, implications, and any omissions;
understanding the speaker’s motives may be relevant
as well
Empathic listening
Understand the speaker’s feeling, needs, and wants,
regardless of whether you agree with his or her
perspective
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Table 2.5 Five Elements of Active Listening
Element
Why It’s Important
Open and positive
state of mind
This mindset makes you receptive to new information
and positive about the experience of listening to this
person.
Active engagement
If you don’t commit to being in and staying in the
conversation, your mind will wander and the other
person will sense that you aren’t fully engaged.
Respect for silence
A moment of silence might be the speaker collecting
or reconsidering his or her thoughts; if you step in too
soon, you could interrupt the flow.
Nonverbal
awareness
Intentional and unintentional nonverbal signals can
explain and amplify the speaker’s message.
Thoughtful notetaking
If the information is important, don’t rely on your
memory; it’s too easy to forget key details.
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Table 2.6 Behavioral Difference Between
Effective and Ineffective Listeners (1 of 2)
Effective Listeners
Ineffective Listeners
Listen actively
Listen passively
Put themselves in an open, positive frame
of mind
Switch to listening without consideration,
continuing in whatever emotional state they
were in before
Stay focused on the speaker and the
conversation
Allow their minds to wander, are easily
distracted, or work on unrelated tasks
Take careful notes, when applicable
Take no notes or ineffective notes
Make frequent eye contact with the
speaker (depends on culture to some
extent)
Make little or no eye contact—or
inappropriate eye contact
Keep their emotions under control and
don’t let their own anxieties poison the
conversation
Allow their emotions to negatively influence
the conversation
Mentally paraphrase key points to maintain
attention level and ensure comprehension
Fail to paraphrase
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Table 2.6 Behavioral Difference Between
Effective and Ineffective Listeners (2 of 2)
Effective Listeners
Ineffective Listeners
Adjust listening style to the situation
Listen with the same style, regardless of the situation
Give the speaker nonverbal feedback (such as
nodding to show agreement or raising eyebrows to
show surprise or skepticism)
Fail to give the speaker nonverbal feedback
Save questions or points of disagreement until an
appropriate time
Interrupt whenever they disagree or don’t understand
Engage the other person with questions or
encouragement; validate the other person’s feelings
Fail to engage; offer no encouragement or
expression of understanding
Overlook stylistic differences and focus on the
speaker’s message
Are distracted by or unduly influenced by stylistic
differences; are judgmental
Make distinctions between main points and
supporting details
Are unable to distinguish main points from details
Look for opportunities to learn
Assume they already know everything that’s
important to know
Sources: Judi Brownell, Listening: Attitudes, Principles, and Skills, 6th ed. (New York: Routledge, 2018), 6, 10–11, 19–20,
88–89; Jack Zenger and Joseph Folkman, “What Great Listeners Actually Do,” Harvard Business Review, 14 July 2016,
www.hbr.org; Amy Jen Su and Muriel Maignan Wilkins, “What Gets in the Way of Listening,” Harvard\Business Review, 14
April 2016, www.hbr.org; Madelyn Burley-Allen, Listening: The Forgotten Skill, 2nd ed. (New York: Wiley, 1995), 70–71,
119–120; Larry Barker and Kittie Watson, Listen Up (New York: St. Martin’s, 2000), 8, 9, 64.
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Improving Your Nonverbal Communication Skills
• LO 2.5 Explain the importance of nonverbal
communication, and identify six major categories of
nonverbal expression.
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Recognizing Nonverbal Communication
• Facial Expression
• Gesture and Posture
• Vocal Characteristics
• Personal Appearance
• Touch
• Time and Space
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Use Nonverbal Communication Effectively
• When You’re Talking
• When You’re Not Talking
• When You’re Listening
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Developing Your Business Etiquette
• LO 2.6 Explain the importance of business etiquette, and
identify five key areas in which good etiquette is essential.
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Business Etiquette in the Workplace (1 of 2)
• Respect other people’s time
• Don’t interrupt
• Use professional language
• Pay attention to cleanliness
• Avoid eating at your desk
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Business Etiquette in the Workplace (2 of 2)
• Keep the noise level down
• Respect other people’s personal space
• Don’t gossip
• Don’t come to work when sick
• Avoid discussing potentially emotional issues
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Professional Attire
• Business formal
• Business professional
• Business casual
• Casual
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Business Etiquette in Social Situations
Meeting Others
Business Meals
Representing Your Company
Observing Dining Etiquette
Introducing Yourself
Choose Foods that are Easy to Eat
Introducing Others
Avoid Alcohol
Observing Customs – Especially for
International Business
Choose Appropriate Topics for
Conversation
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Online Etiquette (1 of 2)
• Avoid Personal Attacks
• Stay Focused on the Original Topic
• Follow Correct Grammar and Spelling
• Use Virus Protection and Keep it Current
• Watch your language and keep emotions under control
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Online Etiquette (2 of 2)
• Avoid multitasking
• Don’t waste other’s time with sloppy or incomplete
messages
• Never assume privacy
• Be careful of online commenting mechanism
• Respect boundaries of time and virtual space
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Telephone Etiquette
• Be conscious of how your voice sounds
• Be courteous when you call someone
• Convey a professional attitude when answering calls
• End calls with courtesy and clarity
• Use voicemail to help callers
• Be considerate when leaving messages
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Mobile Devices Etiquette
• Avoid obnoxious or inappropriate ringtones
• Mute phones during meetings
• Don’t be loud in open spaces
• Don’t talk right next to someone else
• Limit personal calls while at work
• Don’t make calls in restrooms or other inappropriate places
• Avoid texting when others are with you
• Limit voice recognition use if it disrupts others
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Copyright
This work is protected by United States copyright laws and
is provided solely for the use of instructors in teaching their
courses and assessing student learning. Dissemination or
sale of any part of this work (including on the World Wide
Web) will destroy the integrity of the work and is not
permitted. The work and materials from it should never be
made available to students except by instructors using the
accompanying text in their classes. All recipients of this
work are expected to abide by these restrictions and to
honor the intended pedagogical purposes and the needs of
other instructors who rely on these materials.
Copyright © 2021, 2018, 2016, Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Business Communication Today
Fifteenth Edition
Chapter 3
Communication Challenges in a
Diverse, Global Marketplace
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Learning Objectives
3.1 Discuss the opportunities and challenges of intercultural
communication.
3.2 Define cultural competency, and explain the influence of
culture on business communication.
3.3 Explain the importance of recognizing cultural variations,
and list eight key dimensions of cultural diversity.
3.4 List four general guidelines for adapting to any business
culture.
3.5 Identify six steps you can take to improve your
intercultural communication skills.
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Understanding the Opportunities and Challenges of
Communication in a Diverse World
• LO 3.1 Discuss the opportunities and challenges of
intercultural communication.
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The Opportunities in a Global Marketplace
• International communication skills provide
– Increased profits
– Increased revenue
– Increased market share
– More valued employees
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The Advantages of a Diverse Workforce
• A broader range of views and ideas
• A better understanding of diverse, fragmented markets
• A broader pool of talent from which to recruit
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The Challenges of Intercultural Communication
• Connecting with and Motivating Diverse Employees
• Fostering Harmony in Diverse Teams
• Ensuring that Messages are Sent, Received, and Properly
Encoded
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Cultural Influences Affect
• Language
• Nonverbal signals
• Word meaning
• Time and space issues
• Rules of human relationships
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Developing Cultural Competency
• LO 3.2 Define cultural competency, and explain the
influence of culture on business communication.
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Understand the Concept of Culture
• We Each Belong to Several Cultures, each with its Own
Special Language and/or Customs
– Ethnic group
– Religious group
– Professional group
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Understanding the Concept of Culture
• Automatic
• Coherent
• Complete
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Recognizing Variations in a Diverse World
• LO 3.3 Explain the importance of recognizing cultural
variations, and list eight key dimensions of cultural
diversity.
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Major Dimensions of Cultural Diversity
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Contextual Differences
High-Context Culture
Low-Context Culture
Relies More on Nonverbal
Communication
Relies More on Verbal Communication
Less Emphasis on Verbal
Communication
Less Emphasis on Nonverbal
Communication
Indirect Method of Communication
Direct Method of Communication
Goal is to Build Relationships Rather
Than Exchange Information
Goal is to Exchange Information
Rather Than Build Relationships
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Legal and Ethical Differences
• Actively Seek Mutual Ground
• Send and Receive Messages Without Judgment
• Send Messages that are Honest
• Show Respect for Cultural Differences
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Social Differences
• Attitudes Toward Work and Success
• Roles and Status
• Use of Manners
• Concepts of Time
• Future Orientation
• Openness and Inclusiveness
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Nonverbal Communication
• Greetings
• Personal Space
• Touching
• Facial Expressions
• Eye Contact
• Posture
• Formality
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Age Differences
• The Silent Generation
• Baby Boomers
• Generation X
• Millennials
• “Post-Millennials” (Generation Z)
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Gender Differences
• General Perceptions of Gender Roles
• Gender Representation in Management Roles
• Different Communication Styles
• Outdated Concepts of Gender and Sexual Orientation
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Religious Differences
Personal Beliefs
Workplace Issues
Balancing Act Between:
Balancing Act Between:
Corporate Culture
Upholding and Advancing Corporate
Culture
Personal Beliefs
Respecting Employees’ Personal
Beliefs
Employee Freedom of Expression
Allowing Freedom of Expression while
Maintaining Legal Compliance
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Ability Differences
• Respect for Individuals
– Neurodiversity
• Sensitivity to Differences
• Availability of Assistive Technologies
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Adapting to Other Business Cultures
• LO 3.4 List four general guidelines for adapting to any
business culture.
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Guidelines for Adapting to Any Business Culture
• Become aware of your own biases
• Be careful about applying the “Golden Rule”
• Be accommodating and respectful, even if you don’t
understand or agree
• Practice patience and maintain a sense of humor
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Guidelines for Adapting to U.S. Business Culture
• Individualism
• Equality
• Privacy and Personal Space
• Time and Schedules
• Religion
• Communication Style
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Improving Intercultural Communication Skills
• LO 3.5 Identify six steps you can take to improve your
intercultural communication skills.
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Studying Other Cultures
• Knowledge, Ability, and Motivation
• Research, Practice, and Honest Effort
• Websites, Books, Print Media, Music, and Apps
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Overcoming Ethnocentrism and Stereotyping
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Studying Other Languages
• Increased Career Opportunities
• Common Phrases for Everyday Business and Social
Situations
• Mobile Devices, Apps, and Websites
• Avoid Assumptions and Learn About Other Languages and
Dialects
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Respecting Preferences for Communication Style
• Level of Directness
• Degree of Formality
• Media Preferences
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Writing Clearly (1 of 2)
• Choose words carefully
• Avoid words with multiple meanings
• Write short, clear sentences
• Keep paragraphs short
• Use transitions generously
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Writing Clearly (2 of 2)
• Address international correspondence properly
• Cite numbers and dates in local formats
• Avoid slang and idiomatic phrases
• Avoid humor and references to popular culture
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Speaking and Listening Clearly
• Adjust content and style
• Be mindful of communication medium and circumstances
• Be aware of nonverbal communication styles and cultural
norms
• Speak slowly and clearly without being condescending
• Ask for feedback and rephrase as necessary
• Confirm for agreement
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Using Interpreters, Translators, and
Translation Software
• Interpreters – for spoken communication
• Translators – for both spoken and written communication
• Computerized Translation Tools
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Helping Others Adapt to Your Culture
• Look for Opportunities to Help
• Offer Advice on Word Choice
• Suggest Appropriate Communication Styles and Media
• Help Simplify the Communication Process
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