Communication Archives

Erin Meyer: What Is Affective Trust?

What is affective trust? How do people from personal cultures approach professional relationships? Affective trust is trust that develops based on how you feel about the other person. Affective trust is the trust that people of all cultures feel towards their family and friends. But in personal cultures, it’s also the cornerstone of professional relationships. In this article, we’ll look at how members of personal cultures build trust and present some tips you can use to build trust in a personal culture.

How Peach and Coconut Cultures Approach Disclosure

What is the difference between a “peach” and a “coconut” culture? How do peach and coconut cultures approach personal disclosure? The peach/coconut model describes how different cultures indicate the depth of their relationship. People from peach cultures seem friendly on the outside but difficult to know on the inside. In contrast, people from coconut cultures may seem cold and unapproachable on the outside, but once you get to know them, you can build a deep, personal relationship with them really fast. Keep reading to learn more about peach and coconut cultures, according to cultural communication expert Erin Meyer.

How to Join a Group Conversation Without Intrusion

How do you join in a group conversation without being rude? Is there a polite way to interrupt an ongoing conversation? Whether you’re at a work party, a family get-together, or a business meeting, it’s important to connect with others. But that’s not always easy when they already know each other or are already engaged in a conversation. So, here are some tips on how to insert yourself into a group conversation.

Deductive vs. Inductive Thinking: What’s the Difference?

What is the difference between deductive vs. inductive thinking? Which cultures tend to adopt either style of thinking? Deductive thinking moves from broad, overarching principles to specific observations. In contrast, inductive thinking moves from specific data points to overarching hypotheses or theories. According to cultural communication expert Erin Meyer, Latin Americans tend to be deductive thinkers, whereas North Americans and people from Anglo-Saxon countries tend towards inductive thinking. In this article, we’ll consider the difference between deductive and inductive reasoning in a cultural context.

How to End a Conversation Without Burning Bridges

Do you ever get stuck in a conversation and don’t know how to end it? Is there a way to politely escape a conversation? Whether you’re at a business party, an event, or a family reunion, odds are that at some point you’ve been stuck in an awkward conversation. Luckily, you don’t have to fake a phone call to get out of it—just try one of these tips. In this article, we’ll explore how to gracefully end a conversation without burning any bridges.

The Key Components of a Successful Conversation

Do you know how to engage in small talk? What are the mechanics of a successful conversation? Should you prepare in advance? In her book The Fine Art of Small Talk, Debra Fine breaks down all of the components of a successful conversation. She gives you advice for questions and answers you should prepare in advance, how to actively listen, cues to give your partner, and how to speak assertively. Here are Debra Fine’s tips on how to hold a successful conversation.

Erin Meyer: Understanding Cross-Cultural Differences

How do the world’s cultures differ in terms of communication? How have these differences come about? On a communication spectrum, cultures can be classified into high-context (where people communicate and interpret messages at face value) and low-context (where you have to read between the lines to get the message). According to Erin Meyer, a culture’s communication style is shaped by its language and history. In this article, we’ll look at the two factors that underlie cross-cultural differences in communication: language and history.

Giving Feedback Across Cultures: Tips & Strategies

What is the key to delivering clear yet considerate feedback? How does feedback differ across cultures? The ability to deliver feedback on someone’s performance in a way the receiver understands is essential to both your and the feedback receiver’s success. If you’re too indirect, the receiver might not understand its content and if you’re too direct, you may come across as cruel or incompetent. In this article, we’ll look at the two main ways cultures give feedback and present some strategies for giving feedback across cultures.

How to Talk About Yourself: Tips for Telling Your Story

Do you hate talking about yourself? Why do you need to be willing to open up to others to make a connection? In her book The Fine Art of Small Talk, Debra Fine says that conversations should be balanced, meaning you can’t just keep asking your partner questions. Thankfully, you don’t have to go into conversations unprepared. Here is Fine’s advice on how to talk about yourself and tips on how to tell your story.

Debra Fine: How to Master the Art of Small Talk

Do you want to master the art of small talk? How do you politely start and end a conversation with a stranger? In her book The Fine Art of Small Talk, author Debra Fine teaches readers how to master the art of small talk. She goes over the four steps to a successful conversation, how to start a conversation with a stranger, how to end a conversation gracefully, and more. Here is an overview of Debra Fine’s advice on how to master the art of small talk.