Individuals that approach their intercultural interactions with a mindset characterised by these qualities are better able to manage the disorientating effects of cultural differences and build strong, effective working relationships with culturally diverse stakeholders.
Fortunately, research has shown that individuals can improve their interactions with persons from different cultural backgrounds by bringing the following qualities to their exchanges: Optimism—Misunderstandings, misattributions, conflict, confusion and uncertainty are common in intercultural interactions and can strain relationships.
Poor intercultural relations contribute to a failure to achieve both social and professional goals in the novel settings. C stands for Cognition: As individuals come into contact with beliefs and norms that conflict with their own cultural codes, perceptions of differences drive distinctions of ‘us’ vs. ‘them’.
Intercultural effectiveness requires a ‘meeting of the minds’—shared ways of thinking, feeling, and acting that help us to better understand, predict, and respond to the thoughts and behaviour of others. A meeting of the minds increases the likelihood that our interactions will be harmonious and our communicative goals will be achieved.
However, this is not as easy as it sounds. Certain cognitive, emotional, and behavioural barriers must be overcome for individuals from different cultural backgrounds to align their frameworks for interpreting and responding to the world.
Fortunately, research has shown that individuals can improve their interactions with persons from different cultural backgrounds by bringing the following qualities to their exchanges: Optimism—Misunderstandings, misattributions, conflict, confusion and uncertainty are common in intercultural ...
Studies show that although tangible cultural elements like dress, language, and business practices are increasingly global, relative differences between cultures, with regards to their less visible elements—like values, assumptions, and beliefs—have remained stable over many decades.
Culture shock refers to the disorientation and distress that a person experiences when they are exposed to a new cultural environment and they fail to adjust their cultural framework.
Cultural skills or cultural behavior describes an individuals ability to learn from interaction with others, to appreciate the different behaviors between members of different cultures and to modify one's behavior to fit a specific cultural situation.
Cultural sensitivity relates to being aware of practices that exist in other cultures and being willing to investigate the reasons why people of another culture act the way they do. For example, in some cultures individuals keep a certain distance when greeting each other.