Doing Business With Ease Overseas (eBook)

Building Cross-Cultural Relationships That Last

Harriet L. Russell (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2016 | 1. Auflage
260 Seiten
Indie Books International (Verlag)
978-1-941870-67-9 (ISBN)

Infos

THE QUEST: Cross-Cultural Connections at Home and Abroad In this global economy and multicultural, multilingual world, bridges are built and crossed. The advice in this book will help you cross them with ease. The principles of self-awareness, nonjudgment, acceptance of others, and seeing the whole picture will bring you success in your cross-cultural business relations.

Textauszug

LESSON 2

Techniques for Better Intercultural Communication

How to Speak English to Nonnative English Speakers

Talking with nonnative English speakers requires more awareness in making sure that our words and messages are understood.

The potential for confusion, not being able to find the right words, not being understood, or not understanding the other can lead to embarrassment, misunderstandings, and miscommunications on both sides. This creates stress or impatience at best and can also strain or break business relationships.

English is an international language of business and builds a future for children around the world. “And what is his name?” I ask.

“Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold.” English class at Uzbek school with Mrs. Nargiza and Mrs. Harriet.

Understanding the Nonnative Speaker

English is often the language of multicultural business communication, but it can be difficult to understand the English of nonnative speakers who are not fluent. Their native accent might be strong and your ear may not be used to hearing foreigners speak English.

Verbal communications with others who are not bilingual and whose English is a second language takes patience, relaxation, and openness. When we relax, we are more able to drop expectations and linear thought of how things should be. We can then move into becoming more creative in our way of communicating, hearing beyond the words and into the heart of the meanings.

If we are stuck on needing everything said in proper correct English, we block anything that falls outside of that box and judge it as incorrect.

Focus on what you do understand,
rather than what you do not
understand.

Points to Remember for Understanding the
Nonnative English Speaker:

•   Ask the speaker to talk more slowly.

•   Relax and remember to listen and try to understand.

•   Repeat what you think the speaker has said.

•   Read the speaker’s lips.

•   Do not interrupt the speaker. Give him or her enough time in which to communicate.

•   Listen to everything the speaker has to say before assuming you don’t understand.

•   Observe body language and other nonverbal signals.

•   Beware of a positive response to a negative question.

•   Beware of a qualified “yes,” in response to the question, “Do you understand?”

•   Share responsibility for poor communication.

•   If appropriate, invite the speaker to spell difficult words.

•   Encourage the nonnative speaker to give a written summary.

English is Not All the Same

If you do have a conversation with someone who speaks English, make sure the English you are speaking is the same.

In Kyrgyzstan, I was once invited to a social dinner. The husband was meeting some former school friends, like a mini-reunion, and the wife wanted me to come along so she had a companion too. I was their houseguest. The translator was their fluent English-speaking daughter who ran an NGO (nongovernmental organization). She had a nondescript accent, leaning towards the U.S. accent rather than a British one.

She translated that I should go to dinner with them. No time had been indicated, so I went out for the day and came back at 4 p.m., with plenty of time to get ready for dinner.

However, when I asked what time we would be leaving, I was told they had already eaten dinner at noon. Dinner for U.S. speakers is in the evening, or a holiday family gathering on a late afternoon, and the midday meal is lunch. She had been using the British meaning of dinner, which is at midday.

And so I missed the luncheon—oh, I mean, dinner. But, fortunately it was not a business meeting. I learned then to not assume anything and to ask clear questions about time.

Jargon

Americans often like to use sports jargon in business. These expressions are so common among fluent English speakers that many forget the expressions are jargon—a specialized language. Avoid them.

At a loss for casual conversation? Teach one of these expressions to your foreign counterpart. It could stimulate a cross-cultural dialogue about sports. Here are some examples:

•   I’ll touch base with you next week (contact you)

•   Give me a ballpark figure (estimated range)

•   This is a home-run for us (an achievement, a win)

•   He has two strikes against him already (already made mistakes)

•   That seems too out in left field (unexpected, unusual)

•   This is really off the wall (unusual, inappropriate)

•   We are in the big league now (larger corporate connections)

•   Keep your eye on the ball (focus on the goal)

•   He dropped the ball (did not complete the task)

•   That was a real curveball (surprising, unexpected)

•   Did you cover all the bases? (be thorough, look at all alternatives)

•   Step up to the plate (take responsibility)

Here are some other commonly used American English business expressions that are not universal:

•   Bottom line

•   No way

•   ASAP

•   We need this yesterday

•   R & D

•   P & L

•   Go over someone’s head

•   This won’t fly

•   Cover yourself

•   Cement a deal

Take the Positive Approach

See the bigger picture. What is the purpose for communicating at all? We want to connect. We want to develop a relationship that works. Just as you drop the idea that someone needs to look or dress like you do, drop the idea that someone needs to speak your kind of English to be understood. Get creative with your verbal use of words; say it in different ways; look for signs of whether they understand or not. Are they nodding their head? Are they emitting any sounds of acknowledgment (uhmmm, yes, oh)?

Use body language and facial
expressions to communicate.

When we are not as dependent on spoken words, we naturally develop our nonverbal skills and perceive and understand more than what verbal language may indicate.

You already know how to do this, whether you realize it or not.

For example, when you speak to a young child, your boss, or a new acquaintance, you probably think more carefully about what you say and how you say it. You’re probably on your best behavior, more patient, and take your time to listen and speak clearly. Your body posture reflects this.

Of course if you are internally stressed, frustrated, or judgmental, you will diminish your ability to speak consciously, listen, and really hear, and therefore also diminish your chances of understanding and being understood. Your mood and feelings come through in your body language.

Have you noticed that native English speakers from Britain, Australia, New Zealand, use different expressions, colloquialisms, and intonation than those from the U.S.? In India and Jamaica, English carries a more distinct accent and cadence.

Listen carefully to fully understand, or ask questions to clarify.

If we hang on to our concepts of what that difference means, we draw the focus to just the gap, the difference.

If we can observe with a witnessing approach—a nonjudgmental awareness without an emotional reaction internally—we are able to look beyond the external differences and see the actual person. We can bridge the gap and start to focus on the similarities and the spaces where we can find common ground.

Everyone has a mind and thoughts. We see. We notice. But what we do with the thoughts will impact our ability to communicate, connect, and develop a relationship.

Stop going along with spiraling thoughts. Breathe, relax, and trust. Then you will allow the creativity for communications to come forth.

The ability to do this depends on your personal comfort level, individual personality, your culture, personal past experiences, and exposure to different cultures.

And never underestimate the intelligence of a person just because they are not fluent in your language. If you ever wonder, “Why can’t they speak English better?” remember English is not their native...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 27.7.2016
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Wirtschaft ► Betriebswirtschaft / Management ► Unternehmensführung / Management
• ISBN-10: 1-941870-67-8 / 1941870678
• ISBN-13: 978-1-941870-67-9 / 9781941870679