Intercultural Communication for Dummies
? Gea Wijers PhD
Science officer at the PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency
Problem
This thing called Intercultural Communication, I think it is made to sound really complicated (and painful). In most of the courses and books on offer, Intercultural communication appears to require special skills and advanced know-how as well as extensive training. Common sense is what you need most, I say.
There's no doubt about it, some people are more gifted in the intercultural department than others. They are a little more emphatic maybe, a little more perceptive and -most importantly- a little more prone to keep their opinions to themselves. Timing is important.
The good news, however, is that we can all learn how to be better at understanding each other across cultures. Here are some really simple everyday tricks to use to your advantage..
What?
A lot of intercultural communication is about the acknowledgement of differences without judgement. So always try and distinguish your perspective from alternative views. Be open to contrasting views.
1. Accustom yourself to speak about your opinions in sentences that involve “I feel/think/see this as”. This leaves an open space for different ideas and helps start an exchange.
2. Accept that there is not one truth but, often, there are many perceptions of the truth. THE truth is actually a multi-layered thing that comes in many shapes and sizes.
3. Do not silently "assume" anything. When in doubt about someone's meaning or emotions, check with an open question (which is a question that cannot be answered with a Yes or No alone). Ask questions for clarification and better understanding.
*Be nice to yourself. Not everybody can be interculturally sensitive all the time.
There are no cookie-cutter solutions in intercultural communication. Even if you have some knowledge about a culture (f.i. when you know that it is customary to be late or it is well-regarded to burp after dinner) that does not necessarily mean it is easier to accept or do it yourself. We all have our own routines in doing things, and these are not so easily changed.
Why?
Life is so much nicer when you ask questions instead of fooling yourself into thinking you have all the answers all the time. A little curiosity will bring you a long way (and lots of new friends).We are all just human, so don’t be afraid to communicate!