Phan Thị Hà Thu
Posts : 12
Points : 36
Thanked : 0
Join date : 2014-02-23
Age : 30
 |  Subject: Intercultural effectiveness and Cross- cultural competencies  Tue Apr 22, 2014 3:35 am | |
| Intercultural effectiveness and Cross- cultural competencies 1. Intercultural effectiveness An intercultural effective person is someone:- Live contentedly and work successfully in another culture without too much discomfort- An ability to communicate with people of another culture in a way that earns their respect and trust- The capacity to adapt his/her professional skills (both technical and managerial) to fit local conditions and constraints- The capacity to adjust personally so that s/he is content and generally at ease in the host culture2. Cross - cultural competenciesCultural competence is considered as a set of congruent behaviors, attitudes, and policies that come together in a system, agency, or among professionals and enables that system, agency, or those professionals to work effectively and appropriate in complex cross-cultural situations. Cross-cultural competence is not an end in itself, but is a set of variables that contribute to intercultural effectiveness.The roles of having cross-cultural competencies- Communicator are motivated to communicate with others and integrate a wide array of culture- general knowledge into their behavioral repertoires, thus being able to skillfully apply that knowledge to the specific cultures with which they interact- Communicators have had extensive intercultural communication experiences and have learned to adjust to alternative patterns of thinking and behaving.The development of intercultural competence is mostly based on the individual's experiences while he or she is communicating with different cultures. When interacting with people from other cultures, the individual experiences certain obstacles that are caused by differences in cultural understanding between two people from different cultures. Such experiences may motivate the individual to acquire skills that can help him to communicate his point of view to an audience belonging to a different cultural ethnicity and background.There are four levels of cross- cultural communication competence. They are unconscious incompetence, conscious incompetence, conscious competence and unconscious competence.3. Cross- cultural competencies Cross- cultural competencies are necessary to communicate appropriately and effective with people from another culture. It helps promote cosmopolitan communication:Being mindful of others: We must focus on understanding another’s perspective in negotiating with people from the host cultureAbility to empathize: To be sensitive to the needs of others and understanding their point of view.Active listening: a process of thinking with people.Tolerance for change: encourages calm when confronting the unknown and facing new, untested alternatives.Tolerance for ambiguity: the ability to accept lack of clarity and ambiguity and to be able to deal with it constructively.Ability to flexible adapt our behavior: To be accommodate our behavior to people from other cultures.Language skills: Having language skills can take on the personality of the speaker and adjust to the cultural context.Body language: We must be aware of the messages through nonverbal cues how convey to members of the host cultureProfessional qualifications: Knowledge of business practices in the host culture and technical competence.Making accurate predictions and explanations: Reducing anxiety, uncertainty and understanding people of another culture4. Tips for Improving Cross-cultural Communication - Gain awareness. Become aware that although a gesture, word or response may mean something in your culture; it may mean something totally different to someone from another culture. - Take a look at your own culture. Understanding how your worldview and culture impacts your perception of others will help you identify instances where you may tend to use biases or stereotypes when interacting with those whom you may perceive as different.- Try a little understanding. In trying to better understand your clients and their motivations, understand the impact that culture plays on their values, perspectives and behavior.- Listen closely and pay attention. Try to focus on verbal as well as non-verbal cues and the behavior of your client. If the client seems distracted, confused, or ill at ease, ask questions.- Suspend judgment as much as possible. Approaching people from other cultures in a judgmental manner will hinder your ability to gain a clear understanding of the situation.- Be flexible. Flexibility, adaptability and open-mindedness are critical to effective cross-cultural communication. |
|
