The Truth About Getting Your Point Across...
And Nothing But The Truth

Part XIII:  The Truth About Communicating Globally

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Sure, it's easier to communicate when everyone is in the same location and speaks the same language.  But how about when communication means across the ocean versus across the hall?  Or how about when an international colleague looks at you like you've got a third eye if you say "you da bomb!" as they wonder why you have called them an explosive device?  In today's "glocal" world, the need to communicate globally will only increase and will require leaders to sharpen their communication style to accommodate those in Duluth, Delhi, or Denmark. 

This part contains four truths, as follows:

• Truth 56: It’s not all about the Ivory Tower - This is particularly relevant to those who work at corporate headquarters in their company.  Too often, those who work "at corporate" develop a viewpoint that everything outside of corporate works just like it does at corporate.  Not so.  It really helps to get out of the ivory tower once in an while and see how the rest of the world lives.

• Truth 57: You’ve got to talk to them even if it’s after hours - Particularly in today's electronic communication society, it is very easy for us to rely upon e-mail to get our point across to our colleagues on the other side of the world.  E-mail is great, but you've got to get on the phone and do some real-time talking to build the relationship and the trust with international colleagues.

• Truth 58: Face-to-face paves the communication highway - Some of my best relationship building happened over an exotic dinner where I didn't know exactly what I was eating.  Being face to face with your colleagues across the pond extends the trust factor, lets the colleagues know you care about them, and can make for some great stories. 

• Truth 59: Just because they can speak in your native tongue doesn’t mean they understand everything you say - True, it may be that your colleagues can communicate in your native tongue, but when you start throwing "slanguage" into your speaking or start using terminology which ventures beyond your colleague's capabilities you'll likely confuse your colleagues and miss getting your point across.  Keeping things simple help you effectively get your point across to your global colleagues. 

Order The Truth About Getting Your Point Across here.

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