As a Training Manager or Trainer, you understand the critical role that Intercultural Communication training courses play in the success of individuals and organizations in today’s globalized world. When done the right way, these trainings can enhance cultural awareness, improve cross-cultural dialogue, and overall positively drive employee productivity.
However, identifying the most relevant and impactful topics to include in such a course can be a daunting task. So how do you decide what content should be included?
A good starting point is to conduct a comprehensive communication skills assessment . This assessment will help you identify any potential gaps or areas for improvement. Then, you can use this information to design a training program that specifically addresses the unique needs of your audience.
Cultural awareness, values and norms
Communication styles and preferences
Cross-cultural communication skills
In this blog post, we will explore the 3 essential topics that you need to include in your custom-built Intercultural Communication Training, and offer tips on how to ensure your training is engaging, effective and memorable.
Cultural awareness, values and norms
Culture training is an essential part of an Intercultural Communication program. But the question is, which aspects of culture should you teach?
You can start by identifying the countries or regions where your company operates or has clients. Research the cultural norms, beliefs, and values of those countries and determine the ones that could impact your business. For example, what is the attitude towards punctuality? Are there different approaches to problem-solving? What does success mean in that culture? Or, how should a leader be respected?
Having an understanding of context is important because knowing what is and isn’t acceptable in different countries and cultures can help learners make more informed decisions when communicating with people from other countries.
One useful model that explains cultural values and norms in detail is Hofstedes’ Model of Cultural Dimensions. Hofstede’s Model looks at 6 cultural dimensions that helps people understand how different countries or regions differ. According to Hofstede, cultural dimensions are the “software of the mind” – perspectives that influence how people think and act.
By understanding the cultural norms and values, you can help employees develop an appreciation for those differences and prepare them for successful cross-cultural work.
To foster a deeper understanding of culture, it is essential that trainers immerse learners in real-life examples. By incorporating vivid anecdotes, stories, or case studies, trainers can breathe life into cultural experiences, enabling the class to develop a deeper appreciation of how culture shapes our words and actions in our daily lives.
Communication styles and preferences
Once you’ve discussed cultural norms and values, the next step is to dive into communication styles.
Every culture has its own way of communicating – how it speaks, listens, writes, and reads emails for example. By understanding the nuances of different communication styles, learners can become more effective communicators and build stronger relationships with their colleagues from around the world.
For example, in some cultures, there is a strong emphasis on politeness and respect for authority figures, while in other cultures directness is the norm. In some countries, written emails are expected to be succinct and concise whereas in others, more detail is expected.
One useful model that explains these key differences is Kaplan’s 5 cultural rhetorical pattern This model proposes that there are five distinct communication styles which vary by culture: direct vs. indirect communication, substance-oriented vs. relationship oriented style, monologue vs. dialogue focus, and task-oriented vs. harmony-seeking environment.
To help learners’ be more aware of these differences, it’s essential that trainers provide activities which enable learners to explore their own communication styles as well as those of other cultures.
By understanding these different styles of communicating, learners can develop the necessary skills to successfully communicate with people from different countries and cultures.
Cross-cultural communication skills
Lastly, it is also important for trainers to develop learners’ cross-cultural communication skills. These skills help learners build trust and foster collaboration between people from different cultures.
For example, a key skill when communicating with someone from another culture is to listen actively and openly. This means taking time to understand the other person’s perspective and to ask questions in order to gain clarity, instead of making assumptions and sweeping generalizations.
Another important cross-cultural communication skill is the ability to adjust one’s communication style to different contexts. By being aware of the cultural context, a communicator can be more adaptable and use an appropriate tone and level of formality when interacting with people from different cultures.
Since misunderstandings can occur due to cultural differences, it’s important for trainers to provide activities that help learners become aware of potential communication issues and how to navigate through them. This includes active listening, negotiation, conflict resolution, and compromise.
In Summary:
In conclusion, a robust Intercultural Communication training should cover these 3 essential topics:
- Cultural awareness, values and norms
- Communication styles and preferences
- Cross-cultural communication skills
By understanding these different aspects of intercultural communication, learners will be able to better understand themselves and other cultures as well as become more effective communicators.
At BUPLAS, we specialize in simplifying the process of conducting Intercultural Training with our comprehensive curriculum. Contact us today to discover how we can create a customized Intercultural Communication training specifically tailored to meet the unique needs of your organization.
