Cultural Communication Adapter
Plan for different conversational rules
How this tool worksPlan a conversation with someone who grew up with different conversational rules, based on what you have noticed about them rather than assumptions about their country.Hide
Plan a conversation with someone who grew up with different conversational rules, based on what you have noticed about them rather than assumptions about their country.
Use it when
Use it before a meeting with a mixed team, a dinner with your partner's family, a talk with a partner from another background, or a word with a neighbour, when you suspect you and the other person read directness, time, hierarchy or silence differently.
How to use it
- Describe you both. Write how you tend to communicate, then what you have actually noticed about them, and add where each of you grew up if it helps.
- Set the scene. Say what the conversation is about, pick the setting (work, family, partner or community) and tick where you expect differences.
- Build your plan. The tool turns your answers into differences to watch for, an opening and closing, phrases for checking understanding and what to do if things go wrong.
- Read the background if you want it. The Cultural Dimensions tab explains the research ideas from Hall, Hofstede and Meyer, and the Scenarios tab shows four common situations with ideas to try.
- Reflect afterwards. Come back to the reflection questions at the end of your plan once the conversation has happened.
What you'll come away with
You come away with a short adaptation plan you can copy or print: what might differ, how to open, pace and close, likely misunderstandings and how to head them off, and a few questions to ask instead of guessing.
Tell it about the conversation
Fill in the four questions below, then build your plan. It takes about five minutes.
Describe what you've actually noticed about the other person. Where someone grew up can give you a first guess, but it can't tell you who they are, so this tool works from what you tell it, not from assumptions about anyone's country.
Think about how direct you are, how you handle silence and how formal you are with older people.
Stick to what you've seen or heard. Add where they grew up only if you know.
One or two sentences is plenty. It goes at the top of your plan.