Words are
not the only part of communication and their interpretation depends on prior
leaning experiences. It is amazing that
some people and cultures are able to relay exact messages but with some degree
of effort, it is possible. Communication
between investors, partners, or staff is complex. Even the most experienced managers,
negotiators, or diplomats have problems at times. Your goals in a startup must always be to
provide clear communication and understanding with all those around you.
One way to
show differences in interpretations comes from a discussion I had with a scientist
on my research team a number of years ago.
He relayed the following statement from a news article: “Americans
strive to succeed while Europeans strive to not fail.” To some, the comparisons are the same while
to others Americans are risk takers, while Europeans are conservative in their
approach. The end goals are the same,
but the approach to success is different.
Yet, the language sounds like the same description if provided using
different words.
Communication
between cultures often relies on how the experiences and relationships
structured the lives of those in different countries. In some cultures, nodding one’s head means
they hear you, while in others it means yes.
The same can come from the use of the words yes in some cultures; i.e.
they heard you but they may not agree. I
spent some time working with a scientific team in a foreign country
transitioning to a more democratic style of government. The scientists were trying to become entrepreneurs
and creating a company. My messages on
being aggressive in the work place and other goals did not translate the same
to them because they had never experienced the American actions related to the
words. Translation: “They thought they were doing as instructed,
but they had no basis to understand the instructions.” The words were there, the underlying
understanding of those words were different.
In a recent
discussion with an administrator about an employee, the administrator thought
the employee was not communicating effectively due to language. The administrator did not understand that the
employee’s life in a different country did not translate into the employee
understanding the words and actions in the way that the administrator did. Both were excellent at their jobs, but the
communication gap existed because the administration in general and the
employee failed to understand each other.
Understanding takes extra effort when one is adding the cultural
differences into the mix of the communication.
When I am
asked questions and I answer them directly.
My tendency is to take the questions in a literal meaning. Sometimes the questions are not literal but
relate to a different question. This
failure to see the real issues and answer a question that is not what was
intended creates confusion. The ultimate
goal is to communicate and, at times, it takes listening and interpreting the individuals
to do so. It is hard to see the real
questions when not asked directly. It is
hard to interpret the answers when seeking an answer to a different question;
i.e. communication at its worse.
One of my
favorite comedy skits came from Bud Abbott and Lou Costello: Who is on First . This skit highlights the inability to convey
the meaning of words and the literal but incorrect interpretation of them. If you elect to watch this on YouTube, keep in mind that from time
to time, your conversations may come across just as confusing. Take the time to understand and communicate
so you are not asked “Who is on First?”
You
can follow Taffy Williams on Twitter by @twilli2861 and you can email him with questions
at twilli2861@aol.com and his company website , photo website, or like
ColonialTDC on Facebook. You can also find him in the group
Startup Group on
Linkedin. Other articles can be found in the Charlotte,
NC- small business section of Examiner.com. This blog is listed
on StartUpRoar and on Alltop®.
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