STRATEGIES FOR CROSS-CULTURAL INTERACTIONS – Listen
Virtual team managers must L E A R N how to effectively communicate across cultures. The following are guidelines to build interpersonal relationships, help maximize interactions and foster a collaborative environment. By utilizing the following five strategies, you will develop your cross cultural virtual communication and become a more effective virtual team player in these settings.
5 Strategies for Engaging in Effective Cross-Cultural Communications:
L ISTEN
E FFECTIVELY COMMUNICATE
A VOID AMBIGUITY
R ESPECT DIFFERENCES
N O JUDGMENT
Strategy #1: LISTEN
Active listening is the single most useful way to overcome barriers to effective communication. We listen for meaning by checking back with the speaker to ensure that we have accurately heard and understood what was said. Communicating across cultures adds another layer to the ‘noise’ that is present, which makes it critical to add that extra step of checking back. Active listening is the key to avoiding misinterpretations. For example, people from different cultures may use the same word in different ways, as we’ve seen, and so repeating what you think you heard and asking if that’s what was intended confirms your understanding of its meaning.
Learn to get beyond the distractions that may interfere with properly hearing your speaker, such as accents, limited vocabulary and lack of understanding nuances of a language. Be attuned to his/her cultural background and communication style.
Beyond active listening, you can tone down your language, avoiding harsh and/or difficult words as well as adjust the speed and timing of your speech. Incorporate the following techniques into your every day communication:
Listen without considering what you will say next. Take the time to listen rather than try to guess what’s being said. Avoid thinking ahead.
Ask questions to ensure that you accurately understand the message being conveyed.
Don’t assume that you understand the meaning of someone else’s statement. And, don’t assume that what you mean to convey is understood by the listener. Paraphrase back to the speaker to clarify understanding.
Avoid multitasking when listening to virtual team members. Consider the speaker’s background when evaluating his/her message and be aware of and suspend assumptions based on your own cultural interpretations.
Use a headset if possible, to keep your hands free so you can take notes to verify the important points of the conversation and the action items that need attention with your colleagues.
Next post will focus on E= Effectively Communicate of the LEARN cross cultural communications concept.
Yael Zofi
