Cultural Communications - Essay Example

Business communication in the United States has distinct features that differentiate it from communication in other cultures. Communication style in the United States focuses on the message as opposed to development of long-term relationships during a communication process. Interactions are therefore short-term based and are limited the tasks to be performed. Another feature of the United States communication protocol is individualism culture. People put their self-interest before others, operate independently, and are identified with the culture of “self promotion” (Nafsa, n.d., p. 1). The American business communication protocol is further informal and disregards social class.

Individuals prefer interacting with peers to underscore rank recognitions and even communications with people at higher social classes or ranks are informally conducted without consideration to the ranks (Nafsa, n.d.). Nature of interpersonal relationships is another characteristic behavior in American business communication. The individualistic approach undermines development of strong interpersonal relationship. Consequently, the culture reports loosely formed relationships that only last for short periods.

The loose interpersonal bonds together with the culture of independence also identify lack of long-term obligations in business communications because interactions are limited to tasks. American business communication culture is also direct, involving confrontations. An emerging issue is directly criticized, and people are not afraid to “discuss controversial topics” (Nafsa, n.d., p. 1). Further, individuals in American culture always feel free to communicate their thoughts (Nafsa, n.d.).

Business communication in the culture is also proactive and aligned to applicable rules of law. An American manager would for example comfortably initiate communications to discuss issues and similarly observe legal constraints and consequences of elements of the communications, and agreements made thereof (Li, 2012). A direct approach to communicating feedback also characterizes the culture’s business communication protocol (Hrmagazine, 2008). How the protocols would create challenges The identified protocols in U.S. business communication create challenges by inducing culture based communication barriers in communication with individuals from a different culture.

The Americans individualistic approach to communication may not be acceptable to a person from a collective culture, and may lead to suspicions. Similarly, an individualistic approach to communication with a party from a collective culture would communicate selfishness against the communist morals, a factor that would identify ethical concerns and lead to withdrawal from communication as the collectivist seeks to maintain his or her expected moral standards. The United States culture that disregards social hierarchy and cultural practices is also likely to raise ethical concerns and negatively influence communication with a person from a different culture.

A person from a culture in which people regard social hierarchy and integrate culture in communication would for example lose interest in a communication in which a young American manager fails to recognize the party’s seniority while negotiating. Failure, by Americans, who do not