Intercultural Communication in the Work Environment

Intercultural Communication in the Work Environment

Intercultural Communication. Diversity is a normal occurrence in today workforce. In today work place, there are more women, more minorities, and more physical disable people are entering the work force. As a result, the workplace has cultural differences. According to the textbook Communicating Effectively, “cultural difference, in the broadest sense, include more than obvious distinction among people from other countries, but also differences based on economical or social standard. Understanding cultural difference not only create vehicle for communication, but it prevent awkward incidents.”(Hybels, & Weaver, 2007, p. 222)

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“Intercultural communication is one of the most critical factors contributing to business growth and success in today’s global marketplace.” (Clark, & Dou, 1999) Therefore, company must be able to identify the barrier to effective interpersonal communication. Barrier to intercultural include ethnocentrism, stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination. For example, a company that display ethnocentrism will seen as showing arrogance and therefore, could be creating a negative environment. Likewise, if representatives of a company stereotype ones culture this could hinder the company ability to acquire business in other countries. A company that do not employ cultural awareness training risk the lost of business in the global market.

Furthermore, countries are experiencing the same conflict as intercultural companies are dealing with in multi-cultural environment, “the population is coming from an increasingly diverse cultural background, and many languages are being spoken in addition to a common language such as English. In London alone, the number of cultural backgrounds and languages can run into hundreds while the Hispanics and the Asian communities in the United States of America have become increasingly important because of their growing population.” (Hyland, 1996)

Prior to proceeding further, the question that needs to be asked is what is meant by professional communications? Effective professional communication occurs whenever someone conveys relevant information in any form. Effective communication involves information that is timely for decision-making as well as that which promotes your business through advertising and public relations. Idle conversation about the weather or a football ball game is not necessarily unimportant in a business setting. Hence, professional communications is not just about writing memos in an office for a culturally diverse workforce or letters to other businesses and offices with which a firm may have dealings. Small talk is an important part of employee relations and is necessary to establish the channels of communication. If a business is related to the entertainment or sports industries, it would no longer be small talk, and could be considered keeping up with the competition or market comparisons. Key elements of business communication are conveyance, effectiveness, structure, and editing.

One need to be able recognize how words have the power to create and affect attitudes, behavior and perception. This is why conveying meaning in business communication is of the utmost importance. One has to start with some idea of what the audience or market is required to understand, and this has to be narrowed down to one specific message. In today’s hectic and fast-paced business world, no one has the time or patience to figure out a well-intended but obscure purpose. This is true when one is trying to persuade someone towards a line of reasoning, as in an advertisement, sales pitch, or job interview. (Clark, & Dou, 1999)

When the sole intent is to market the business, make sure you know the difference between advertising and public relations. Advertising involves paying to promote your business through various media. Public relations do not cost anything and refers to anything that conveys a positive image for a business. (Winters, 2004)

Networking can aid a company’s public relations effort in talking to potential customers or clients, council members and others vital to getting the word out. While networking may cost a business executive a lunch here or there, it is main expense is your time and energy. If you are a small business just starting out, it may be more economically feasible to rely heavily on public relations in the beginning, or a novel form of advertising, i.e…………………………………….

Intercultural Communication in the Work Environment essay

Intercultural Communication in the Work Environment essay