Cultural Issues: Intercultural Conflict Styles

1. Cultural Issues:Intercultural Conflict Styles CorinaMihaelaParaschiv Marketing & Communications Director Rotaract in USA, Canada and Caribbean

2. Do You See What I See?

3. Unassertive/Assertive Uncooperative/Cooperative

4. Unassertive/Assertive Collaboration Avoidance Uncooperative/Cooperative

5. Not All Cultures are the Same • Models are developed using “emic” logic • They use an “insider’s view” • Makes models culturally-biased • Cultures DO differ • Using an “etic” logic (“outsider perspective”) • All cultures can be plotted on a spectrum

6. Communication Style

7. Which type of communicator are you? Indirect Direct Precise, explicit language “Say what you mean and mean what you say” Prefers face-to-face, direct channels to solve issues Sender is responsible for communicating clearly • Use of metaphors • Use of analogies • Hint what you mean • Make use of third-party intermediary in conflicts • Rely on receiver to clarify misunderstanding

8. Which type of communicator are you? • Indirect • Direct

9. Expressiveness

10. What is your expressiveness type? Emotionally Restrained? Emotionally Expressive Visually demonstrate feelings by laughing, gesturing, facial expressions Tone can vary in function to emotions Commitment, trust, and degree of involvement shown through emotions Credibility and sincerity gained through emotional display • Emotions are disguised in order to maintain harmony • Less display of non-verbal behavior • Less variation in speech rate, loudness, and pitch • Concern exists that displaying emotion will hurt others’ feelings

11. What is you expressiveness type? • Restrained • Expressive

12. Putting It All Together

13. Intercultural Conflict Style Direct Discussion Engagement Emotionally Restrained Emotionally Expressive Dynamic Accommodation Indirect

14. Intercultural Conflict Style Direct U.S. (European American), Canada, U.K., Sweden, Norway, Australia, Germany, Denmark… U.S. (African American), France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Russia, Israel, Rumania… Discussion Engagement Emotionally Restrained Emotionally Expressive Native American, Mexico, Costa Rica, Peru, China, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia… Kuwait, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon,,Pakistan… Dynamic Accommodation Indirect

15. Ask Yourself… How do I appear to others? How do I recognize this style?

16. Discussion • Difficulty in “reading between the lines” • Appears logical but unfeeling • Appears uncomfortable with emotional arguments

17. Engagement • Appears unconcerned with the views & feelings of others • Appears dominating & rude • Appears uncomfortable with viewpoints that are separated from emotion

18. Accommodation • Difficulty in voicing own opinion • Appears uncommitted & dishonest • Difficulty in providing elaborated explanations

19. Dynamic • Rarely “gets to the point” • Appears unreasonable & devious • Appears “too emotional”

20. Bottom Line… 4 different intercultural conflict styles + 4 very different ways of handling conflict Many possibilities for misunderstandings!! Discussion Engagement Dynamic Accommodation

21. Skills to Build On… • Mindful listening • Mindful reframing • Face-maintenance skills • Trust building skills • Collaborative dialogue • Communication adaptability

22. Access to Resources… • Contact me : Corina M. Paraschiv at mcorina@gmail.com • Questions regarding Inter-Cultural Teamwork • Free copy of the Leading Across Culture Documentary • Visit http://innovationplatform.concordia.ca • Articles on Cross-Cultural Teamwork • Preparation for Studying Abroad