Competence in Intercultural Communication

Why Study Culture

l   More than 10,000 foreign companies operate in the U.S.

l  8 of 10 leading chemical companies

l  9 of 10 leading banks

l  All the leading construction companies

l   Over 8 million Americans work overseas in more than 180 different countries

Motivation

l   Those with a higher willingness to communicate with people from other countries tend to be more successful

l   You can extend your organization’s reach and establish new business contacts

Tolerance for Ambiguity

l   Tolerance makes it possible to accept and even embrace people and things that you may not understand

l   Accepting others even if you don’t understand their behavior will increase your chances of success

Open-Mindedness

l   We tend to view things as “wrong” or “bad” when they don’t match our own

l   You must realize that people behave according to their own cultural rules and norms (and they must to be accepted)

Knowledge and Skill

l   Be aware of your own behaviors and communication choices that stem from your culture

l   Use active strategies including:

l  Reading books, watching films, asking experts, and seeking information from others

Levels of Culture

l         Concrete

l        This is the most visible and tangible level of culture, and includes the most surface-level dimensions such as clothes, music, food, games, etc. These aspects of culture are often those which provide the focus for multicultural "festivals" or "celebrations."

Levels of Culture

l         Behavioral

l        This level of culture clarifies how we define our social roles, the language we speak, and our approaches to nonverbal communication. The Behavioral level reflects our values. Aspects of this category include language, gender roles, family structure, political affiliation, and other items that differentiate us in society.

Levels of Culture

l   Symbolic

l  This level of culture includes our values and beliefs. It can be abstract, but it is most often the key to how individuals define themselves. It includes values systems, customs, morals, spirituality, religion, worldview, beliefs, etc.