Solutions to overcome difficulties

Experience - Best way to gain experience is to immerse you in the language. This is not as practical but you can begin by listening to the radio, music, reading their newspaper and learning about their religion. 

Differences - Differences may make you feel like an outsider, it can easily become a threat. This is natural; you have to remember the differences are not as important as the similarities. 

Overlooking Similarities - It is easy to overlook similarities. People do not realize that we are a lot more similar than we think. When we focus on the differences, it makes it difficult to see the similarities. 

Stereotyping - This is when the mind comes up with its own rules and generalization. But this fails to consider individual variation or real life experience. This can eventually turn into a prejudice. 

Variation - There is more variation within groups than between them. This means that, the differences between group A and B can seem like so much but it does not come close to the difference within the group. The culture and history shape the customs/rituals through which those aspects of human nature are expressed. 

This video will tell us some magic way to deliver bad news.Solution to overcome difficulties

Changes - Cultures are always changing. This is done especially through interaction between people of different backgrounds. It might be a slow change, most of the time people are not aware that their culture is changing but, this change is inevitable.


Reference

http://www.wikihow.com/Communicate-Bad-News-Professionally 

Saving Face in High – Context Culture

Saving face is crucial in high-context societies

High context cultures refer to a cultural tendency where low context messages are not used in everyday communications and many things are left unsaid allowing the culture to explain. The use of words is very crucial in high context communications because fewer words correspond complex messages to people within the group but gets harder to understand for outsiders.

In order to stay on the safe side, delivering bad news is very important. It’s very important to save face in this culture and refusals are considered potential losses for both parties.

 

In order to understand the meaning behind a conversation in a high context culture, a person has to analyze the other person’s communication style, tone, culture and context.

Here is a video which tell more about the High context culture. 

To better understand it, here is an example: a contractor goes to home depot to buy a saw and asks the associate for help, who is not similar with this particular department. The answer of the associate would have to be “sir, I’m not familiar with this product but I will get someone who knows more about this”, in order to stay on the safe side. This way both parties benefit. 

Reference
http://badnewspresenting.blogspot.ca/2013/02/high-context-vs-low-context-cultures.html 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kc6rDxlqG18

High and Low Context

The need for effective communication skills is an essential part in resolving issues regardless of your position. It is important consider what cultural aspect might be at play when thinking of communication breakdowns. The high and low context of communication has been a useful tool for many, including me when it comes to exploring issues in a conflict.

High context communication  

1. The true meaning of a message is embedded in the context, it hidden rather then obvious. For instance, context can vary from vocal tone, body language or even history between the people communicating. 
2. Contains less data compare to the context it is presented in.
3. In a communication, the sender refrains from expressing their real desires and needs in order to help the receiver. 
4. In comparison, low context communicators find high context communicators more elusive or vague and indirect. 
5. Japan and China are high context cultures, therefore they favor group harmony more then achievements of an individual and place higher value on relationships as well.
6. High context cultures consist of individuals that use feelings over reason and logic as their base for decision-making. 

Low context communication

1. When it comes to low context communications, the meaning of a message does not rely on context and is conveyed openly. The communicators tend to be cleaner, open, and concise with their messages. 
2. Compared to low context communication, it contains more data then the context in which it is presented.
3. The sender of a communication expresses their feelings and desires explicitly so they can help the receiver of the communication to fully understand their feelings and needs. 
4. For high context communicators, low context communicators seem rude and frank. It can be a huge mistake for low context communicators to work in a high context culture where face saving is important. 
5. Individuals in low context cultures prominently use feelings and their heart to make decisions. 

This video tells the different between High and Low context.

It’s important to understand the difference between high and low context communicators because tit provides diagnostic tools to help negotiate any troubles arising.   These tools help both the high and low context communicators also mediators and negotiators. For instance, mediators can learn to re-frame their messages to suit the disputant and as negotiators, they can begin to frame their communicator more effectively. 

Reference 

http://viaconflict.com/2013/08/31/high-low-context-communication/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-x5J_q1XE4