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Global Business Essentials

Being an Effective Communicator2015.07.28

     
     For a Japanese version of this article, please click here! 

    Being able to communicate effectively in business depends on a lot of factors, such as the situation, enviroment, and people.

     

    In Japan people place a lot of importance on maintaining harmony and order. This results in extensive internal restraint and the omission of a lot of opinions, questions and even statements that are thought of having the potential to disrupt this harmony and order. One of the most dauting obstacles that the Japanese encounter is getting accustomed to the lack of subtlety and nuance apparent in they way westerners conduct business. Likewise, westerners find it very difficult to understand and deal with 本音 (Honne) and 建前 (Tatemae)

     

    In todays blog we will be looking at a few tips to bridge the gap between these two distinct ways of communicating.

     

    Tip #1 First and foremost, speak up.

    Dont be afraid to voice your opinion and when you do, try to be as straightforward as possible and say what you mean. Westerners tend to prioritize getting their points across and reaching a decision over maintaining harmony.

    When in doubt, dont be afraid to interrupt the speaker, albeit with a polite phrase, and wait to continue asking your question until after they have acknowledged you.

    Whatever you do, dont resort to using the silence. Depending on the situation this will most likely be interpreted as understanding and agreeing with everything the speaker has said so far, or even worse, a reluctance to reach a decision or agreement.

     

    Tip #2 Keep language simple.

    When speaking to others with varying levels of proficiency in a language, a lot of what is said is not understood. Try to make sure what you say is clear and concise. Dont be tempted to use big words or terminology just for the sake of trying to smart, more often than not simpler words will be appreciated more.

     

     

    Tip #3: Loosen up and relax

    When it comes to posture, Japanese tend to be much like Germany and most of Western Europe. Postures are very formal and upright, while gestures are rigid and minimalistic. In the United States and most of South America this kind of behavior can come across as cold and unfriendly, as postures there are generally more casual and relaxed, and gestures are significantly looser and more exaggerated.

     

    Tip #4: Dont take things personally

    Western communication prioritizes being direct and to the point and more often than not places being polite as secondary. Be aware of this and dont interpret disagreement and suggestions of alternatives as anything other than an attempt to reach a common consensus.

     

    Tip #5: Be prepared to talk about business on the go

    Westerners dont confine their talk about business to the office or meeting room, in fact there are no clear boundaries and in many cases there many be issues discussed over a meal or in the car. Dont expect to discuss things at length or in great detail, but do be prepared to give up, go over and talk about things.

     

    Keeping these tips in mind will help assure smoother communication between different individuals. Overall, effective communication between people from different countries and cultural backgrounds requires some intercultural awareness and a willingness to compromise. Always try to be prepared and know about the people you will be have a meeting or negotiating with, it could prove to be the difference between success and failure. 

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    Article Writer

    Noel Bradshaw

    Noel Bradshaw is the COO of Rosetta Stone Learning Center and started his career at management consulting firm Accenture. He came to Japan with the JET programme before joining Rosetta Stone Learning Center and has been with the company for 8 years.
    http://mydma.com/

    If you want to make real progress with your language skills, then Rosetta Stone Learning Center is for you. Rosetta Stone Learning Center integrates the World's number 1 language learning software Rosetta Stone(R) together with high quality one-to-one in-school lessons to accelerate students towards their language goals. RSLC has 8 school locations in Tokyo and Osaka, easy lesson-scheduling, online 24/7 access to self-study resources and a variety of study options that makes it an ideal, flexible option for busy people. Let Rosetta Stone Learning Center support you through your next career move.

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