2002 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited. All rights reserved.

Building Critical SkillsFirst Canadian Edition

BUSINESS COMMUNICATION

Kitty O. LockerKitty O. LockerStephenStephen Kyo KaczmarekKyo Kaczmarek

Kathryn BraunKathryn Braun

2002 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited. All rights reserved.

odule 3odule 3

Consider diversity as part of your audience analysis.Consider diversity as part of your audience analysis.

Apply your awareness of others values to your spoken and Apply your awareness of others values to your spoken and written messages.written messages.

Use biasUse bias--free language and photos.free language and photos.

Communicating Across Cultures

Skills toSkills to

2002 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited. All rights reserved.

odule 3odule 3Communicating Across Cultures

What is culture?What is culture?

How does culture affect business communication?How does culture affect business communication?

There are so many cultures! How can I know enough to There are so many cultures! How can I know enough to communicate?communicate?

How can I make my documents biasHow can I make my documents bias--free?free?

TopicsTopics

2002 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited. All rights reserved.

Dimensions of Workplace DiversityDimensions of Workplace Diversity GenderGender Race and EthnicityRace and Ethnicity Regional/National Regional/National

OriginOrigin Social ClassSocial Class ReligionReligion AgeAge Sexual OrientationSexual Orientation Physical AbilityPhysical Ability

2002 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited. All rights reserved.

HighHigh-- and Lowand Low--Context CulturesContext Cultures HighHigh--ContextContext

zz Most information is inferred from the context of a message. Most information is inferred from the context of a message. Japanese, Arabic, and Latin American cultures are examples.Japanese, Arabic, and Latin American cultures are examples.

LowLow--ContextContext

zz Context is less important; most information is explicitly Context is less important; most information is explicitly spelled out. German, Scandinavian, and the dominant North spelled out. German, Scandinavian, and the dominant North American cultures are examples.American cultures are examples.

2002 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited. All rights reserved.

Dimensions of CultureDimensions of Culture Values, Beliefs, and PracticesValues, Beliefs, and Practices Nonverbal CommunicationNonverbal Communication

zz Body LanguageBody Languagezz Eye ContactEye Contactzz GesturesGestureszz SpaceSpacezz TouchTouchzz Spatial ArrangementsSpatial Arrangementszz TimeTime

2002 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited. All rights reserved.

International CommunicationInternational Communication Understand your values and Understand your values and behavioursbehaviours

are influenced by culture.are influenced by culture. Be flexible and open to change.Be flexible and open to change. Be sensitive to verbal and nonverbal Be sensitive to verbal and nonverbal

behavior.behavior. Be aware of the values, beliefs, and Be aware of the values, beliefs, and

practices in other cultures.practices in other cultures. Be sensitive to differences among Be sensitive to differences among

individuals within a culture.individuals within a culture.

2002 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited. All rights reserved.

BiasBias--Free LanguageFree Language Nonsexist LanguageNonsexist Language

zz Treats sexes neutrally.Treats sexes neutrally.zz Avoids biased termsAvoids biased termse.g., e.g., PersonnelPersonnel instead of instead of Manpower.Manpower.

NonracistNonracist andand NonagistNonagist LanguageLanguagezz Treats races and ages neutrally.Treats races and ages neutrally.zz Avoids references to race or age unless relevant.Avoids references to race or age unless relevant.zz Uses terms that groups prefer.Uses terms that groups prefer.

2002 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited. All rights reserved.

BiasBias--Free LanguageFree Language When talking about people with When talking about people with

disabilities and diseasesdisabilities and diseaseszz Use Use PeoplePeople--FirstFirst languagelanguagefocus on people, not focus on people, not

conditions.conditions.zz Avoid negative terms, unless the audience prefers them.Avoid negative terms, unless the audience prefers them.

2002 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited. All rights reserved.

BiasBias--Free Photos and IllustrationsFree Photos and Illustrations Check visuals Check visuals

for bias.for bias.zz Are the people diverse?Are the people diverse?zz Are power relationships Are power relationships

balanced?balanced?zz Can you create your own Can you create your own

visuals rather than rely on visuals rather than rely on biased clip art?biased clip art?