View video – Dr. Tom Verghese: Understanding Cultural Communication Differences [3:00 min.] Dr. Verghese discusses cross-cultural communication differences in direct and indirect communication styles, body language, and tonality, and challenges they can present. He also points out that perceptions of communication styles are always relative to your own cultural reference point.

The notion of direct and indirect communication styles is based on Hall’s (1981) research, who you read about in Chapter 18.2. As Dr. Garson (2007) explains, higher context cultures tend to be more indirect, and lower context cultures tend to be more explicit, in both verbal and nonverbal messages. Learning to flex your communication style in different cultural contexts can help you frame messages more appropriately, and avoid misunderstandings. Dr. Garson reminds that no one culture is purely high or low context, and there is a great deal of individual style variation within cultures as well.

View video – TedX Talks: Valerie Hoeks – Cultural difference in business [12:17 min.] Hoeks observes Westerners have much to learn about relationships from the Chinese. She explains how Confucian philosophy emphasizes correctness in social relationships, justice, sincerity, loyalty, and respect for elders.This is why you need to build relationships to be successful in business in China. She describes the concept of ‘guanxi’ as the importance of relationship in how things get done, which means a long introduction phase is needed to build trust. Once mutual trust is established, Chinese people are very loyal. Hoeks also explains three keys to maintaining relationships – reciprocal favour, harmony and face – illustrated with stories of her experiences of living and working in China. She says her own most important learning was to take a long term view, and to be patient, open, and a good listener.

View video –TedX Talks Julien S. Bourrelle: How Culture Drives Behaviours [12:07 min.] Bourrelle explains how our home culture learning shapes our perceptions, expectations and behaviour in social situations. To communicate effectively with different others, we need to change our ‘cultural glasses.’ We can do this by developing awareness of our own cultural lens, and increasing our understanding of other cultural perspectives. Bourrelle illustrates his message with stories of his experiences of social interactions between people from various cultures in his international study and work experiences. His main point is that if you can change your cultural lens, you can change your perceptions, and the way you relate to cultural differences. This is the key to benefiting from diversity.