Saving Face: Framing Cross-Cultural Communications

As we work in more diverse workplaces and our organizations expand globally, it’s important to understand different cultural and social norms and practices in order to work effectively, collaboratively, and respectfully.

Microlesson Description

In this microlesson, we teach employees and managers how to frame conversations to align with social and cultural needs. Where one culture may value fast and direct communication and welcome open debate and quick decisions, another culture may value formal and polite interactions, reputation protection, and thoughtful consideration over time. When we frame our conversations to align with different social and cultural needs, we are more likely to have a successful collaboration. This microlesson is part of our Embracing Interculturalism skill-building series.

Key Concepts

Best practices to frame conversations across different cultures
How to work together in intercultural work environments
The concept of losing and saving face and how it impacts intercultural communication