When I raise the topic in my seminars of making clear requests within intercultural business contexts, participants wonder at first what there is to say about something that seems so self evident. After all, everyone knows how to ask for what they want, don’t they, when speaking their native language? So why wouldn’t this also be true when using English…read more →
Everyone pays lip service to the concept of keeping the listener or reader in mind when communicating. But the reality is that when it comes to speaking and writing for an intercultural audience, a glaring mistake is committed repeatedly. My clients, who speak English as a second language from an intermediate to an advanced level, are all focused on impressing…read more →
Even though I have studied and applied many communication models over the years with the intention of helping my clients solve their communication challenges, I am always open to learning new models, both for myself and for them. I begin learning a new model with two questions in mind: How will using this model improve how I communicate? How will…read more →
Imagine that I invited you to an evening performance of the traditional dances of countries from around the world. Watching and listening, you would likely notice how some of the costumes, sounds and movements seemed familiar to you. They might remind you of the traditional costumes and dances of your own country. Of course, there would also be some totally…read more →
The Sound of Silence was a popular song recorded by Simon and Garfunkel. My son was playing it recently in France, so clearly the song communicates over the decades and across cultures. The song’s title often comes to my mind when I hear complaints from clients who work within international companies about their requests not being answered, their offers being…read more →
Speaking, writing and listening seem complex when you use English as a foreign language within an intercultural business context. You can feel like you are swimming in a sea of words. When I introduced this water metaphor in one of my intercultural communication seminars, a participant joked that sometimes it felt more to him like he was “drowning” in a…read more →
This is the year you have decided to become a more effective intercultural communicator? Bravo! You can purchase and download my eBook, along with an 80-page workbook. Not sure? Read a free extract. Questions? Just ask.
