CULTURE: THE KEY TO CONNECTION
As social media and the internet grow the world becomes smaller. It is easier to connect with people across the world in different time zones than ever before. This growth of technology has allowed businesses to extend their reach and become international and global. Deals and connections are made every day between different cultures and languages. As borders break down cultural competency becomes more important. Even in America, there are several subcultures that live within our communities. Learning about different cultures is the key to good communication and connections.
In my Professional Communications course (MGMT 250) we studied how business is conducted in other countries and their business etiquette. In my artifacts I have included my presentation for Business in Japan. In my presentation I included the three main values of the Japanese culture which is honor, awareness, and politeness. These values translate into how they do business and their best connections are made through companies that are aware of this. For example, when making a presentation to Japanese clients the business person with the highest ranking only addresses the other highest ranking individual and business is mainly conducted between the two of them. Addressing others under them is seen as a sign of disrespect.
A key concept in my Principles of Marketing (MKTG350) class is the 4 factors that effect consumer behavior; Cultural, Social, Personal, and Psychological. While these factors do affect consumption behaviors they also affect how people behave and interact in general. As mentioned earlier cultural awareness effects the strength of business relationships because each culture expects others to be respectful of their customs.
On a smaller scale, subcultures in our surroundings are also extremely important to understand and be aware of. As an extended orientation mentor (XM) for Pillars for Carolina I learned that if I wanted to connect with my participants I had to understand their backgrounds and be aware of the differences as well as the similarities. With this I was able to connect with each of them in different ways. Some of them came from different social classes, different religions, and different states; all these traits feed into a subculture. For example, some of my participants were from the North where people are known to be more upfront but, in the south, out of politeness we aren’t always as direct. When discussing and reflecting from activities I made sure to be more direct about issues they might face when arriving at school rather than alluding to them so that they receive the message better.
On the other hand, as a Resident Mentor, most of my residents came from a similar background, therefore it was easier for me to connect with them. While I still had to be aware of personalities and personal preferences it was a different experience than my experience as a XM. In my artifacts I have attached a reflection of my one-on-one meetings with my residents. In this one-on-one I was asked to evaluate their transition to college and if they have experienced a change in their perspective of life and their values. Since most of them were from South Carolina or had recently moved they already felt a slight sense of community.
It is easy for us to connect with people who are like us but as our lives become more diverse it is essential for us to be aware of others. The more knowledge we have about the different cultures in our community the better we can communicate effectively to each other. As I progress in the professional world I will continue to be open and curious about other cultures in order to build a stronger community.