Cultural differences in business communication
There are big cultural differences between North American businesspeople and businesspeople in Europe and Asia when it comes to using the telephone and e-mail.
North Americans like e-mail more than they like the telephone. E-mail is a “one way” message. You can write an e-mail at anytime. The person who receives the e-mail can read it later. This is convenient.
Another cultural difference is voicemail. American executives will leave a message on voicemail if there is no reply.
European executives, on the other hand, prefer “two ways” communication, such as a phone call or face-to-face meeting. They don’t like to use voicemail. They prefer to call back later, when they can have a conversation. And professionals in the Asia Pacific region dislike one-way communication even more than the Europeans do.
What about telecommuting (working from home, but doing business by phone and e-mail)? Half of North Americans say they like working alone. Telecommuting is very common there. Fifty-nine percent of American businesspeople telecommunicate at least once a month. Less than thirty percent of European workers do. They prefer to be in the office, working with their colleagues face to face.
So, be careful. If you’re working with people from other countries, try to understand their feelings about different types of communication.
Financial Times
A. Read the article above. Decide whether each of the statements is true (T) or false (F).
1. _____People everywhere use e-mail in the same way.
Choose one answer. a. T
b. F
2._____North Americans prefer e-mail to the telephone.
Choose one answer. a. T
b. F
3. _____Asians and Europeans think voicemail is very convenient.
Choose one answer. a. T
b. F
4. _____An e-mail message is an example of two-way communication.
Choose one answer. a. T
b. F
5. _____Face to face communication in business is very important in the Asia Pacific region.
Choose one answer. a. T
b. F
There are big cultural differences between North American businesspeople and businesspeople in Europe and Asia when it comes to using the telephone and e-mail.
North Americans like e-mail more than they like the telephone. E-mail is a “one way” message. You can write an e-mail at anytime. The person who receives the e-mail can read it later. This is convenient.
Another cultural difference is voicemail. American executives will leave a message on voicemail if there is no reply.
European executives, on the other hand, prefer “two ways” communication, such as a phone call or face-to-face meeting. They don’t like to use voicemail. They prefer to call back later, when they can have a conversation. And professionals in the Asia Pacific region dislike one-way communication even more than the Europeans do.
What about telecommuting (working from home, but doing business by phone and e-mail)? Half of North Americans say they like working alone. Telecommuting is very common there. Fifty-nine percent of American businesspeople telecommunicate at least once a month. Less than thirty percent of European workers do. They prefer to be in the office, working with their colleagues face to face.
So, be careful. If you’re working with people from other countries, try to understand their feelings about different types of communication.
Financial Times
A. Read the article above. Decide whether each of the statements is true (T) or false (F).
1. _____People everywhere use e-mail in the same way.
Choose one answer. a. T
b. F
2._____North Americans prefer e-mail to the telephone.
Choose one answer. a. T
b. F
3. _____Asians and Europeans think voicemail is very convenient.
Choose one answer. a. T
b. F
4. _____An e-mail message is an example of two-way communication.
Choose one answer. a. T
b. F
5. _____Face to face communication in business is very important in the Asia Pacific region.
Choose one answer. a. T
b. F
