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Daniel Student and Dr. Cleveland Justis

Communication is much more than the words you say. And cultural communication is much more than just the language you speak. What you say is never interpreted exactly as you meant it and what you hear is never what was meant by what was said. When you mix in the differences of how different cultures draw lines between social interactions and work interactions, give and receive feedback, and engage in and resolve conflict, the barrier to understanding can feel impossible to overcome. You will learn how to recognize your own communication style and how it is being perceived in ways you never intended. From there, we will explore how to successfully integrate multiple cultural norms into your communications and to create a brand new language unique to your team. Before you know it, on the strength of your multinational cultures, your team will be the model to which less diverse teams aspire. We can’t wait to communicate with you!

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What's inside

Syllabus

Getting Started and How Human Beings Communicate
In this module you will be able to compare and contrast different forms of communication and examine one's own communication style. You'll be able to practice explaining a need to others through multiple forms of communication and be able to identify how communication shows up in a team environment. You will also be able to define interpersonal gap and use strategies to minimize the distance.
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Develops communication skills, which are core for all fields
Examines the context of communication, including social and work time
Provides tools and strategies to improve team communication
Can be applied to any team or organization
Taught by experienced instructors with expertise in communication

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Reviews summary

Practical cross-cultural skills for global teams

According to learners, this course offers a largely positive and practical guide to navigating global communication. Students appreciate its clear and well-structured content, finding concepts directly applicable to their professional roles in multinational teams. A significant strength is its focus on self-awareness and cultural nuances, alongside thought-provoking assignments. While many commend its practical utility and the engaging instruction, a recurring theme is that the course is best suited for beginners or those seeking a foundational understanding, potentially feeling too basic or theoretical for more experienced professionals. Some also noted occasional repetitiveness or a slower pace.
Instructor delivery is clear, knowledgeable, and engaging.
"Fantastic course! The instructor's delivery was engaging, and the content was directly applicable to my work."
"The instructor is knowledgeable and presents the material in an easy-to-understand way."
"The instructors are clear and concise, and the exercises are thought-provoking."
"Engaging content and an excellent instructor. The course provided practical frameworks that I've already started applying."
Concepts are presented clearly in a well-organized manner.
"The concepts were presented clearly, and the real-world examples helped solidify my understanding."
"The course content is relevant and well-structured. I learned a lot about different cultural dimensions and how they impact communication."
"Very well-structured and highly informative. The course gave me valuable tools to navigate my international team dynamics."
"The modules are structured logically, building up from basic concepts to more complex scenarios."
Emphasizes understanding personal communication styles and biases.
"I found it useful to reflect on my own communication style."
"I appreciate the focus on self-awareness and how culture shapes perception, which was particularly valuable."
"The framework provided for understanding cultural nuances was invaluable. It requires active participation and reflection, which I found very beneficial."
"The insights on self-awareness and how culture shapes perception were particularly valuable."
Provides actionable strategies for real-world scenarios.
"The tutor explains the concepts very well and gives practical examples. The assessments are well thought out and make you think."
"I liked that it provided practical examples and concrete methods to improve communication. Also found it useful to reflect on my own communication style."
"It has definitely changed the way I approach cross-cultural interactions in my professional life."
"The course provided practical frameworks that I've already started applying in my work."
Some find the pace slow, with occasional repetition or long videos.
"My only minor critique is that some video segments were a bit long, and I prefer shorter, more digestible lessons."
"I found some of the examples a bit generic, and the overall pace was slower than I expected. Could be more engaging."
"I felt some parts were a bit repetitive, and could have been condensed."
"The pace was a bit slow, and I was looking for more advanced strategies."
Some desire more hands-on activities and concrete scenarios.
"Some parts felt a bit theoretical, and I would have liked more hands-on activities or case studies to apply the concepts."
"While the topic is important, the content felt largely theoretical without enough actionable advice. I was hoping for more concrete strategies to apply in real situations."
"The course has some useful insights, but it definitely needs more practical application. Many theoretical concepts without enough concrete scenarios or case studies."
Ideal for beginners; may lack depth for experienced learners.
"It reiterates a lot of common sense principles, and I didn't feel like I gained many *new* insights, especially as someone with prior experience living abroad."
"Good foundational course. It’s a great starting point for anyone new to the subject. For me, with some background, it felt a little basic at times..."
"This course was a waste of time for me. No depth, nothing new, especially for someone with professional experience in global teams. It felt very surface-level."
"Terrible course for anyone beyond a complete novice. It was incredibly boring and covered topics that felt like they were lifted straight from an introductory textbook."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Cross-Cultural Communication and Management with these activities:
Tutorial on the Importance of Nonverbal Communication
This tutorial will help you learn about the importance of nonverbal communication, giving you insights into the topic.
Browse courses on Nonverbal Communication
Show steps
  • Watch the tutorial on nonverbal communication.
  • Take notes on the key points.
  • Practice using nonverbal communication skills in your everyday interactions.
Compile Your Notes and Assignments
Since the materials covered in this course are diverse, taking the time to review will increase retention and content mastery.
Browse courses on Organization
Show steps
  • Gather your notes, assignments, and other course materials.
  • Organize the materials into a logical order.
  • Review the materials regularly.
Review Intercultural Communication
Reading this book will help you build a stronger foundation for understanding the complexities of communication across cultures.
Show steps
  • Read the introduction and first two chapters of the book.
  • Take notes on the key concepts of intercultural communication.
  • Use the concepts you learned to analyze your own communication style.
Five other activities
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Practice Giving and Receiving Feedback in a Cross-Cultural Context
These exercises will provide you with opportunities to develop your skills in giving and receiving feedback in a cross-cultural context.
Browse courses on Feedback
Show steps
  • Find a partner from a different culture.
  • Practice giving each other feedback on a specific task.
  • Reflect on the experience and discuss how cultural differences impacted the feedback process.
Peer Practice Session: Negotiating Across Cultures
This session is an opportunity to refine your negotiation skills with individuals from diverse backgrounds to augment your cultural competency.
Browse courses on Negotiation
Show steps
  • Form a group with peers from different cultures.
  • Choose a negotiation scenario.
  • Negotiate with each other, taking into account cultural differences.
  • Reflect on the experience and discuss how cultural differences impacted the negotiation process.
Develop a Communication Plan for a Cross-Cultural Team
This project will let you put your knowledge of cross-cultural communication into practice.
Browse courses on Communication Plan
Show steps
  • Identify the different cultures represented in your team.
  • Research the communication styles of these cultures.
  • Develop a communication plan that takes into account the different cultural styles.
  • Implement your communication plan and monitor its effectiveness.
Create a Presentation on the Impact of Culture on Conflict Resolution
This deliverable will allow you to build on what you've learned about the impact of culture on conflict resolution and showcase your existing skills.
Browse courses on Conflict Resolution
Show steps
  • Research the impact of culture on conflict resolution.
  • Develop a presentation that outlines your findings.
  • Deliver your presentation to your classmates.
Contribute to an Open-Source Project Related to Cross-Cultural Communication
Contributing to an open-source project is an excellent way to apply practical knowledge from this course in a collaborative environment.
Browse courses on Open Source
Show steps
  • Find an open-source project related to cross-cultural communication.
  • Contribute to the project by writing code, fixing bugs, or translating documentation.
  • Collaborate with other contributors to improve the project.

Career center

Learners who complete Cross-Cultural Communication and Management will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Intercultural Communications Consultant
Intercultural Communications Consultants assist organizations in becoming more effective by overcoming cultural differences that may hinder progress. This course can provide a foundation for understanding cultural differences and developing strategies for effective communication, which are essential skills for those in this role.
International Human Resources Manager
International Human Resources Managers oversee human resources functions for organizations with a global presence. This course can help develop the skills necessary to manage diverse teams, understand cultural differences, and resolve conflicts in a cross-cultural environment.
Diversity and Inclusion Manager
Diversity and Inclusion Managers create and implement programs that promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace. This course can help develop the skills necessary to understand cultural differences, build relationships with diverse groups, and create a more inclusive work environment.
Cross-Cultural Trainer
Cross-Cultural Trainers help individuals and organizations understand and adapt to different cultures. This course can help provide the knowledge and skills necessary to develop and deliver cross-cultural training programs.
Cultural Anthropologist
Cultural Anthropologists study the cultures of different societies. This course can provide a foundation for understanding cultural differences and how they impact communication and behavior.
Global Marketing Manager
Global Marketing Managers develop and implement marketing strategies for products and services in international markets. This course can help develop the skills necessary to understand cultural differences and develop effective marketing campaigns for diverse audiences.
International Business Development Manager
International Business Development Managers identify and develop new business opportunities in international markets. This course can provide a foundation for understanding cultural differences, developing relationships with international partners, and negotiating deals in a cross-cultural environment.
Diplomat
Diplomats represent their countries abroad and work to build relationships with other countries. This course can provide a foundation for understanding cultural differences, developing relationships with people from diverse backgrounds, and negotiating agreements.
Foreign Correspondent
Foreign Correspondents report on international news and events. This course can provide a foundation for understanding cultural differences, developing relationships with people from diverse backgrounds, and reporting on complex issues.
Peacebuilder
Peacebuilders work to resolve conflicts and build peace in conflict-affected areas. This course can provide a foundation for understanding cultural differences, developing relationships with people from diverse backgrounds, and working to resolve conflicts peacefully.
Humanitarian Aid Worker
Humanitarian Aid Workers provide assistance to people in need in disaster-affected areas. This course can provide a foundation for understanding cultural differences, developing relationships with people from diverse backgrounds, and working in challenging environments.
Development Consultant
Development Consultants provide advice and assistance to organizations working to improve the lives of people in developing countries. This course can provide a foundation for understanding cultural differences, developing relationships with people from diverse backgrounds, and working to promote sustainable development.
Translator
Translators convert written or spoken text from one language to another. This course may be useful for developing the skills necessary to understand cultural differences and translate texts accurately and sensitively.
Interpreter
Interpreters facilitate communication between people who speak different languages. This course may be useful for developing the skills necessary to understand cultural differences and interpret spoken language accurately and sensitively.
English as a Foreign Language Teacher
English as a Foreign Language Teachers teach English to non-native speakers. This course may be useful for developing the skills necessary to understand cultural differences and teach English effectively to students from diverse backgrounds.

Reading list

We've selected seven books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Cross-Cultural Communication and Management.
Provides a practical guide to understanding and navigating cultural differences in the workplace. It is based on extensive research and interviews with business leaders from around the world.
This textbook provides a practical guide to intercultural communication for business professionals. It covers topics such as cultural differences in communication styles, negotiation, and conflict management.
Provides a practical guide to understanding and avoiding culture shock. It valuable resource for students who are planning to travel or work abroad.
This classic book provides a framework for understanding the hidden rules of culture. It valuable resource for students who want to learn more about how culture shapes our behavior.
Provides a broad overview of the field of cross-cultural communication. It covers topics such as language and culture, communication styles, and intercultural competence.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the field of intercultural communication. It valuable resource for students who want to learn more about the challenges and opportunities of communicating across cultures.
Provides a practical guide to intercultural communication for business professionals. It covers topics such as cultural differences in communication styles, negotiation, and conflict management.

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