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It's no secret that today's workplace is rapidly becoming vast, as the
business environment expands to include various geographic locations
and span numerous cultures. What can be difficult, however, is
understanding how to communicate effectively with individuals who
speak another language or who rely on different means to reach a
common goal.
CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION – THE NEW NORM
The Internet and modern technology have opened up new
marketplaces, and allow us to promote our businesses to new
geographic locations and cultures. And given that it can now be as
easy to work with people remotely as it is to work face-to-face, cross-
cultural communication is increasingly the new norm.
After all, if communication is electronic, it's as easy to work with
someone in another country as it is to work with someone in the next
town.
And why limit yourself to working with people within convenient
driving distance when, just as conveniently, you can work with the
most knowledgeable people in the entire world?
For those of us who are native English-speakers, it is fortunate that
English seems to be the language that people use if they want to reach
the widest possible audience. However, even for native English
speakers, cross-cultural communication can be an issue: Just witness
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