Overcoming Communication Barriers

Abstract

Offer a nicely wrapped gift when invited to a Japanese home. Never touch the head of a Thai. Respecting other people's cultures is not simply good manners — it's good business. Many Australian businesses have a culturally diverse workforce, where productivity can depend on the ability to communicate across cultures. As Australian businesses become more international, the ability to communicate across cultures also becomes more important. This paper explains some of the traditions and dimensions of cultural differences across a number of countries, and how this affects communication. As well as considering the many barriers to cross-cultural communication, practical ideas on how to overcome these are offered. A case study from a business setting is used to demonstrate barriers to cross cultural communication and their effects. Appropriate strategies for overcoming these barriers are elaborated.