Cross-Cultural Oral Presentations

Avoid informality (which may be interpreted as rudeness) in establishing your credibility with people from collectivist cultures.

Begin with relationship-building small talk and introductions.

Emphasize benefits to the group and to solidarity.

Structure your presentation indirectly, too.

Base your argument on the cultural preference of your listeners.

Allow time after your presentation is over for members of collectivist cultures to come to a decision.

Use humor with care in cross-cultural presentations since it generally doesn't translate well.

Use direct sentence structure and commonly used words when speaking to people whose first language is not English, and maintain a moderate pace to allow listeners to absorb your ideas.

Use visual reinforcements of your spoken message.

If you use a translator, select someone who is familiar with your field, and treat him or her as a collaborator.

Meet with the translator ahead of time so that he or she can get used to your voice, read your presentation, and help you interpret the local culture.

Find out if your translator plans to translate simultaneously or consecutively, and adjust your presentation accordingly.

Whenever you plan to do business with people from another culture, find out what you can about their culture and communication preferences through networks both in the United States and overseas, through organizations that serve as resources for businesses abroad, and through print information.

Listen closely to what your readers (or listeners) tell you about their needs, too.

Cross-Cultural Correspondence

Although much of your correspondence to readers in other countries will be written in English, you may want to send translations along with extremely important communications, like proposals and legal documents.

Consider if writing is actually the preferred means of communication; for instance, many Asians prefer face-to-face meetings.

When a relationship is new, focus on face-to-face meetings, followed by writing.

Don't use form letters for people in cultures that stress relationships.

Consider communicating negative messages through intermediaries.

Use a letter of introduction at the beginning of a business relationship with an organization from a formal culture that stresses relationships.

To nurture a relationship when corresponding with people from collectivist cultures, inject something personal into everything you write, and use you more than I or we.

In general, you should be more formal--in salutations, with readers' names and titles, and with document design.

If you need information, ask questions that don't ask the reader to answer with "yes" or "no" since you're unlikely to receive a response if the answer is "no."

Use FAXes to break the bounds of time and space; e-mail is much less frequently used.

For questions and suggestions, please e-mail us at kilbornj@stcloudstate.edu or rinkster@stcloudstate.edu.

The print version of the Instructor's Manual for The Writing of Business
was written by Robert P. Inkster and Judith M. Kilborn for Allyn and Bacon.
This web version of the manual was coded by Judith M. Kilborn.