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Abstract

Sensitivity to diversity now demands a strategic understanding of the importance of cross-cultural communication competence in every action in organizations, communities, and nations throughout the world. This article contains seven micro-cases, each of which highlights a discussion of communication and cultural impact. The cases range from issues related to handshakes, communication with powerful people, collaborating in a divergent culture, unintended impact in meetings, and regional pronunciation differences. The cases include discussion questions, references for additional reading, and one unique feature: a “bumper sticker” summary. The article features a section on Approaching the Challenges. This discusses major communication and cultural theories, which provides a basis for avoiding or reconciling differences. The concluding section, Extending Indirect Experiential Opportunities, advocates specific methods to evolve an individual’s global mind-set and communication capabilities.

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