When it comes to international business, what is one of the most important aspects?
Communication.
It is very important to be able to communicate with your audience and even more to be understood.
Communication comes from the Latin “communicare”: "to share, divide out; communicate, inform” or "to make common”. It is related to communis: "common, public, general". communication | Etymology, origin and meaning of communication by etymonline
So, if it is something common that you’d like to share (i.e. knowledge or thoughts), it should be something understandable by your audience. Otherwise, what is the point?
When it comes to international business, interactions are even more complicated: you are dealing with foreign cultures, and communication differs across various cultures.
In fact, the diversity in communication forms and styles are related to the distinct cultures of people. Understanding cultural peculiarities is crucial in reducing preconceptions, misunderstandings and discrimination that may occur between people from various countries.
Culture is then an important factor in communication.
The anthropologist Edward T. Hall introduced the idea of cultural communication in his 1959 writing “The Silent Language.”
Culture is what determines how people interact with their immediate environment.
The beliefs, traditions, and practices of societies worldwide can be described by elements that range from two communication cultures: Low-context to high-context cultures.
High-context societies are characterised by a highly structured social hierarchy and the presence of strict behavioural rules. In such cases, the information contains a concealed meaning that does not require explicit expression or explanation, neither in writing nor vocally.
So, information in high-context societies has a hidden meaning that members of the community immediately understand.
On the other hand, low-context cultures do the opposite: To effectively understand a message being transmitted, direct verbal communication is required. It mainly relies on explicit verbal skills.
Furthermore, communication is frequently direct, consistent, and sometimes without stopping the usage of words.
These are important factors to take into account when you are having social interactions with people from different cultures. Knowing your audience is primordial to create efficient communication.
So, if you would like to make sure to be understood by your audience, come talk to me. I would be more than happy to connect you with your local communities globally.
Sources: Hall, Edward, T.Beyond Culture. Anchor Books (December 7, 1976)
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