Chapter 2: Communication, Culture, and Work PowerPoint PDF

Chapter 2: Communication, Culture, and Work 1 © 2013 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.  Cultural Diversity and Communication Changing demographics – According to the US Cen...

Chapter 2: Communication, Culture, and Work 1 © 2013 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.  Cultural Diversity and Communication Changing demographics – According to the US Census Bureau, less than 50% of the total national population will be non-Hispanic whites by 2050. More multi-national companies – Very few large corporations fail to cross national lines while doing business in the modern marketplace. Global talent prioritized – Companies are increasingly gathering employees and management from an international talent pool. 2 © 2013 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Nature of Culture Culture can be defined as a learned set of unique values, beliefs, and norms that are shared by a relatively large group of people. Culture is... Learned, not innate or genetic. Often invisible and difficult to describe for those who are accustomed to a particular culture. 3 © 2013 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.  Cultural Differences in Business Customs and behavior – Although certain customs and behaviors may predominate in a particular culture, cultures typically include a range of communication styles. – Avoid stereotyping. Formality – Many countries are more formal than the US. – Many countries are less formal than the US. – In international business, err on the side of formality rather than informality. (For example, address people using their formal title until they invite you to talk to them on a first-name basis.) – Other elements of formality to consider include style of dress and socializing with business colleagues outside of the professional arena. 4 © 2013 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Cultural Differences in Business Time – Monochronic Common to North Americans and northern Europeans, this approach sees time as a valuable resource and almost a tangible substance. We talk a lot about “saving,” “making,” “wasting,” “using,” and “taking” time. – Polychronic Common to Latin Americans, southern Europeans, and Middle Easterners, this approach sees time as more fluid and less of a valued resource. Less concerned with punctuality, polychronic cultures don’t necessarily abruptly begin or end proceedings just because “it’s time.” Sticking to a precise timeframe is often less important than taking the time to honor friendships. 5 © 2013 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.  Cultural Differences in Business Tolerance for conflict – The preferred means of dealing with conflict varies across cultural groups. For example, high levels of conflict avoidance are prominent in many Asian cultures. – Individuals in these cultures tend to take personal responsibility to maintain harmony in a group or within society. – Asian businesspeople may be more likely to avoid saying no directly, fearing that it may cause embarrassment. Gender roles – Although gender roles are a significant factor in virtually all professional environments, expectations for gender- specific behavior can vary from culture to culture. 6 © 2013 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.  Dimensions of Cultural Diversity Low-Context High-Context – Uses language to express – Relies heavily on social rules thoughts and feelings as and subtle, nonverbal cues clearly as possible without to express thoughts/feelings distraction or emphasis. and often to… – Meaning is primarily Save face Promote harmony conveyed by words (central route). – A great deal of meaning is primarily conveyed by context (body language, tone of voice, and other peripheral routes). 7 © 2013 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.  Dimensions of Cultural Diversity Individualism Collectivism – Members are inclined to put – Members feel a higher degree their own interests and those of loyalty toward the culture as of their immediate family a whole and the tight social ahead of social concerns. frameworks that support it. – Competition and – It is often considered exceptionalism is welcomed dishonorable to exceed other and rewarded. workers. 8 © 2013 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.  Co-Cultural Dimensions of Diverse Society Smaller groups that have a clear identity within any given majority culture are called co-cultures. A cross-section of many people and cultures, American society has a great number and variety of co-cultures. Examples of elements that define co-cultures include... Race and ethnicity Language Social class Regional differences Generational differences (Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, Generation Z, and Generation Alpha) Keep these cultural differences in mind when communicating with members of co-cultures in a diverse work environment. 9 © 2013 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.  Co-Cultural Dimensions of Diverse Society When interacting with colleagues who have disabilities, follow cultural guidelines we have already discussed and do not treat them as if they are “different.” Remember that disability is not a defining characteristic of any person; it is simply one feature of their lives. Here are a few other things to keep in mind: – Never lean on anyone’s wheelchair or place your hands on their shoulders. – Don’t hesitate to shake hands with a person who has a disability even if that person has an artificial limb. – Look everyone in the eye regardless of their disability. – If you offer assistance to a person (with a disability or without), don't start helping that person until he/she accepts your offer. 10 © 2013 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.  Organizational Culture and Career Planning Every organization is unique and supports a culture that is all its own. Employees with values that match those of the organization for which they work tend to be more satisfied, more committed to their jobs, and more professionally successful than employees whose values don't match those of their employing organization. Think about the specific organizations that are relevant to you and to your career. Then learn about the culture of each organization by… Studying its physical setting. Reading what it says about itself. Observing communication practices. Interviewing company people. Discovering how company people spend their time. 11 © 2013 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.  Dimensions of Organizational Culture To determine whether a particular organization might be right for you, assess its overall culture in terms of its... Opportunities for growth. Tolerance for risk and change. Level of conflict tolerance. Capacity for emotional support. 12 © 2013 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.  Communicating Across Diversity General rules for success: Become culturally literate – Lack of cultural knowledge can lead to misunderstandings in the workplace. View diversity as opportunity – Diversity brings a variety of valuable viewpoints into the workplace. Avoid ethnocentrism – Ethnocentrism is the inclination to see all events from the perspective of your own culture and to believe that your culture is superior to others. Don’t condescend – Never talk down to people or think less of them because they belong to a co- culture. Create dialogue – It is often constructive to discuss cultural differences openly as long as this can be done without using inflammatory language or disrespectful statements. 13 © 2013 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.