Culture Communication
In the society we live in, communication remains the most basic tool through which human beings express their thoughts, feelings, perceptions, messages and ideologies as well as receiving information. We always engage in communication, whether we are at home with our families, at work places, during recreation and sports and at any other place of interaction. Despite the importance of communication, there is always a barrier to communication due to cultural differences in which case different cultures communicate differently. For example, the nonverbal communication in India is different from that in America or Britain. The difference in communication may be explained based on the language spoken, cultural practices that have different meanings to different cultures, nonverbal communication which may mean differently to different cultures, perceptions and beliefs, and biases and prejudices.
The difference in communication generally affects operations in the workplace. Since workplaces may have different cultures working together, communicating effectively especially when combining verbal and body language and gestures is important in order to ensure all staff members understand each other effectively. According to Clyne (1996), mutual learning among people from different cultures should be enhanced not only to help in workplace communication, but also to enhance industrial democracy. The most effective way to communicate is to ensure that the information communicated is not repugnant to the cultural norms of the intended recipient and also the form in which it is communicated is understood by both the conveyor and receiver of information. In addition, the cultural norms and values of all parties to the communication process should be respected.
There are several ways through which effective communication can be achieved. One way is to learn how each culture receives communication. In addition, training both international and local employees in the organization about company policies and ensuring the policies have fair treatment of all employees to avoid any future conflicts. Mentorship and open-door communication practices also play a role in creating confidence and offering guidance to the employees especially those from foreign cultures. Lastly, using simple language that can be easily understood by all people is paramount (Ribbink, 2003).
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