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Turning Culture Differences into Advantages . Prepared for SPACE International Conference Tallinn – April 23, 2009 Richard D. Lewis, Chairman RICHARD LEWIS COMMUNICATIONS. Culture is moving higher up the world agenda as a major challenge in business and politics.
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Turning Culture Differences into Advantages Prepared for SPACE International Conference Tallinn – April 23, 2009 Richard D. Lewis, Chairman RICHARD LEWIS COMMUNICATIONS
Culture is moving higher up theworld agenda as a major challenge in business and politics
Areas ofCross Cultural Misunderstanding • Values • core beliefs • national characteristics • attitudes and world view • Communication • speech styles • listening habits • Attitude to Authority and Leadership
Layers of Culture National Regional Educational Professional Gender Class Religious Generational Ethnic Corporate Personal
Stereotyping(or generalisation) • A valuable tool but: (i) it must be consciously held (ii) it should be descriptive rather than evaluative (iii) it should be managed
© 2001 Richard D Lewis © 2001 Richard D Lewis
Human Mental Programming – USA –
Human Mental Programming – UK –
Human Mental Programming – Germany –
Human Mental Programming – Estonia –
National Communication Patterns – Italy –
National Communication Patterns – Finland –
National Communication Patterns – Germany –
National Communication Patterns – USA –
British Coded Speech (1) What is said What is meant Hm….interesting idea You could say that We must have a meeting about your idea We shall certainly consider it I’m not quite with you on that one I agree, up to a point What a stupid suggestion I wouldn’t Forget it We won’t do it That is totally unacceptable I disagree
British Coded Speech (2) What is said What is meant Remind me once more of your strategy We must wait for a politically correct time to introduce this It has lots of future potential He works intuitively He’s our best golfer Let me make a suggestion I wasn’t listening last time Forget it It’s failed He’s completely disorganised We keep him out of the office This is what I’ve decided to do
National Communication Patterns – Estonia –
Listening Habits – USA –
Listening Habits – Germany –
Listening Habits – France –
Listening Habits – Italy –
Listening Habits – Estonia –
Leadership Styles • Managers in L/A cultures will: • Demonstrate and look for technical competence • Place facts before sentiments, logic before emotion • Be deal oriented, with a view to immediate achievement and results • Managers in M/A cultures will: • Rely on their eloquence and ability to persuade • Use human force as an inspirational factor • Complete human transactions emotionally • Managers in Reactive cultures will: • Will dominate with knowledge, patience and quiet control • Display modesty and courtesy • Create a harmonious atmosphere for teamwork • Be paternalistic
Leadership style - USA - - UK -
Leadership Style Estonia
Meetings • Linear-active cultures
Meetings • Multi-active cultures
Concepts of Time Linear-active Multi-active & reactive