PPT Module 3 Communicating Across Cultures Mc GrawHillIrwin

PPT Module 3 Communicating Across Cultures Mc. Graw-Hill/Irwin © 2007, The Mc. Graw-Hill Companies, All Rights Reserved.

Communicating Across Cultures ¨To learn how to § Continue to analyze your audiences. § Begin to adapt your message to your audiences. § Begin to understand what your organization wants. 3 -1

Communicating Across Cultures Start by answering these questions: § Who is my audience? § Why is audience so important? § What do I need to know about my audience(s)? 3 -2

Communicating Across Cultures Start by answering these questions: § Now that I have my analysis, what do I do with it? § What if my audiences have different needs? § How do I reach my audience(s)? 3 -3

3 -4 Diversity and Culture Basics ¨ Diversity has always been with us— even if people didn’t recognize it or its value. ¨ There is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to working with cultural differences. § Use the information in this module as guidelines, not rules set in stone. § Remember that people are individuals as well as members of groups. ¨ Be open to change and difference.

3 -5 Diversity in the Workplace ¨ Gender ¨ Race and ethnicity ¨ Regional and national origin ¨ Social class ¨ Religion ¨ Age ¨ Sexual orientation ¨ Physical ability

3 -6 Diversity in the Workplace ¨High-Context Cultures § Most information is inferred from the context of a message. § Little is “spelled out. ” § Examples: Japanese, Arabic, and Latin American cultures.

3 -7 Diversity in the Workplace continued ¨Low-Context Cultures § Context is less important than words. § Most information is spelled out; words are privileged § Examples: German, Scandinavian, and dominant U. S. cultures.

3 -8 Diversity in the Workplace continued ¨Remember § In nations like the U. S. , Canada, and Brazil, multiple cultures exist. While the dominant culture may be privileged, recognize that minority cultures may have different norms with regard to behavior.

3 -9 Dimensions of Culture ¨ Values, Beliefs, and Practices ¨ Nonverbal Communication ¨ Body Language ¨ Eye Contact ¨ Gestures ¨ Space ¨ Spatial Arrangements ¨ Time ¨ Dress ¨ Colors ¨ Height ¨ Oral Communication ¨ Understatement, Exaggeration, and Silence

3 -10 Conversational Style ¨ How long a pause tells you that it’s your turn to speak? ¨ Do you see interruption as rude? ¨ Do you show interest by asking lots of questions?

3 -11 Communicating with Different Cultures ¨Brenda Arbaleez suggests being § Aware that values and behaviors are influenced by culture. § Flexible. § Sensitive. § Aware of the others’ values, beliefs, and practices. § Sensitive to differences among individuals.

3 -12 Ways to Make Language Nonsexist ¨Use § Words that treat both sexes respectfully. § Titles that do not imply one sex “ought” to do a certain job. § The appropriate gender pronoun when referring to a specific person.

3 -13 Ways to Make Language Nonsexist continued ¨ Use § “Ms. ” As the courtesy title for a woman unless · The woman has a professional title. · You know that a woman prefers to be addressed by a traditional title.

3 -14 Ways to Make Language Nonsexist continued ¨When you write about anyone who may be in a job or position, make pronouns nonsexist. § Use plurals. § Use you. § Revise the sentence to omit the pronoun § Use pronoun pairs.

3 -15 Ways to Make Language Nonracist ¨Eliminate adjectives that reinforce negative stereotypes. § Biased: The motivated black students were assigned to internship positions throughout the company. § Bias-free: The students were assigned to internship positions throughout the company.

Ways to Make Language Nonracist continued ¨Identify race or ethnic origin only if it’s relevant. § Biased: Paloma Esteban, a Latino, has been appointed Vice-President of Finance. § Bias-free: Mike Waters, a Sioux, translated the governor’s speech into the Lakota language. 3 -16

Ways to Make Language Nonracist continued ¨Eliminate words and phrases with negative connotations. § Biased: Many of our managers who come from culturally deprived backgrounds now function as role models for young people through our mentoring program. 3 -17

Ways to Make Language Nonracist continued § Bias-free: Many of our managers whose family heritage is African, Asian, or Spanish now function as role models for young people through our mentoring program. 3 -18

3 -19 Talking about People with Diseases or Disabilities ¨Use “people first” language and avoid using adjectives as nouns. § Biased: · the alcoholic · the drug addict · the handicapped § Bias-free: · the woman who is an alcoholic · the man who abuses drugs · people with disabilities

3 -20 Talking about People with Diseases or Disabilities continued ¨Emphasize people’s abilities, not their limits or disabilities. § Biased: Jenny Ling has done an outstanding job as our spokesperson, even though she has diabetes. § Bias-free: Jenny Ling has done an outstanding job as our spokesperson for the past seven years.

Ways to Make Language Nonagist ¨Refer to age only if it’s truly relevant. § Biased: Tomoko Watanabe, 67, is president of Competitive Data Management. § Bias-free: Tomoko Watanabe is president of Competitive Data Management. 3 -21

Ways to Make Language Nonagist continued ¨Avoid stereotypes. § Biased: With her grandmotherly ways, good old Mary Grace makes everyone in Unit 2 feel special. § Bias-free: For the past 35 years, Mary Grace has been helping to create team spirit in Unit 2. 3 -22

Ways to Make Language Nonagist continued ¨Avoid negative labels for children, such as “children from broken homes. ” ¨Remember families can be singleparent and diverse. ¨Use nonsexist descriptions and images of children. 3 -23

3 -24 Bias Free Photos and Illustrations ¨Check visuals for bias. § Are the people diverse? § Are power relationships balanced? § Can you create your own visuals rather than rely on biased clip art?