Intercultural Communication: A Personal Experience and Analysis

This essay delves into the complexities of intercultural communication, highlighting a personal experience where cultural differences inhibited effective interaction. The author reflects on an encounter with a manager from the Middle East, noting differences in value perceptions and formality. By researching Middle Eastern organizational culture, the author gained insight into these differences, particularly regarding physical displays of affection and hierarchical relationships. The essay emphasizes the importance of broad interaction and effective communication in managing intercultural conflict, advocating for sensitivity towards situational and cultural factors in the workplace. It concludes by suggesting that adapting one's behavior to the local culture is crucial for successful intercultural communication. Desklib offers a platform for students to access similar essays and study resources.

Running head: INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
Intercultural communication refers to the study of different social groups and culture.
Confusion between individuals belonging to different cultural backgrounds is inevitable, because
the factor of obliviousness about each other’s cultural traits plays an important part. Personally, I
have faced a situation when cultural differences had inhibited communication. It had happened
when a manager from the Middle East had visited the firm I work for in the United States. I was
quite taken back by his overfriendliness and his paternalism, something which is not very
common over here in the United States of America. While here we prefer handshakes, the Sheikh
had extended a hug. Me being quite young, and he being middle aged went out if his way to be
affectionate towards me like a father figure (Zaharna, 2015).
The factors of difference in value perceptions and the difference in conception about the
degree of formality is something which had inhibited communication (Jandt, 2017). I used to feel
awkward in his presence, though he was as a person quite nice.
I had tried to overcome the barrier by reading up about the organizational culture in the
Middle East and had put an insight into understanding about how the superiors viewed the junior
level employees. I came to know that it is quite common in the Middle East to hug people of the
same gender, which is the alternative to handshake there (Zaharna, 2015). The managers
consider the junior level employees as their children. It was fascinating and I took a liking
towards their cultural practices.
Had I been at the place of the manager from the Middle East, I would have rather tried to
learn about the culture of the place and mould my behaviour in accordance with the place where
I shall be going (Jandt, 2017). This shall be difference in my behaviour.

2INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
In order to manage intercultural conflict, broad interaction and effective communication is very
necessary. One should be sensitive towards the similarities and differences within a wide range
of situational and cultural factors in the workplace.

3INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
References
Jandt, F. E. (2017). An introduction to intercultural communication: Identities in a global
community. Sage Publications.
Zaharna, R. S. (2015). Understanding cultural preferences of Arab communication patterns.
Public Relations Review, 21(3), 241-255.