In the awakening of an economy following globalization, various organizations have been able to generate overseas contacts and gain business projects from around the world. Besides, in the light of this ever-growing era, there are various communication challenges faced by companies because of language, culture, and time zone differences.
We will cover the challenges below, along with measures on how to deal with them:-
1) Time Zone
Around the world, different timings are followed by different regions based on the time zone they follow. For example, in India, a single time zone ‘Indian Standard Time (IST)’ is followed by all the states; which isn’t the same in the case of other regions like the United States of America, Europe, or Australia where regions inside those places have more than 1 timezones.
As organizations collaborate for business activities, it can be difficult to adhere to different time zones. The challenges faced concerning time differences are-
- Difficulty in arranging a meeting
- Having to work at odd-hours
- Having to work beyond working hours
Here are a few ways to deal with the challenges:-
- Be specific when mentioning the date and time: As you are working with companies overseas that may follow a different timezone, it is important to mention the time according to a specific timezone. The business partner can then take note of the same to be able to understand what time it would be in their region.
- Be mindful of the timezones of business partners/clients: Be sure to check the time on your client’s end to ensure that you don’t text them at odd hours. Try to send the text during their working hours if possible, as this would increase the chances of them responding. At the same time, if you want to convey a message at odd hours, then send an email as this would not wake them up from their sleep.
Test out different shifts to cater to different time zones: If the gap between your local time and that of your client’s or business partners’ is huge, then both of you may come to an understanding and schedule the meetings outside your work hours. You may also try to set a time where both of you will have to compromise.
2) Language
Language is the most widely used form of communication. All countries have different languages that are widely spoken by their citizens and which may not be familiar to others. Due to such differences, organizations may find it hard to communicate with their clients or business partners from other countries. It’s very beneficial when both the companies can communicate in a common language. Few challenges in the case of language are –
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- The client isn’t able to understand you
- Misunderstandings may arise
- Differences in interpretations
The following measures can be taken to diminish language challenges –
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- Have an introductory foreign language training for employees: If you have many foreign clients that seem to speak a common language, then you might as well train your employees by providing them with introductory training in that language.
- Using simple language while communicating: Understand the clients’ proficiency in the language that you have decided to communicate in. Adjust your way of speech according to your client. Make sure to avoid using any jargon as it can be misinterpreted.
Make sure to have a translator or interpreter in your firm: Even though your employees may have basic knowledge of the new language through the foreign language training program, it is important to have a translator/ interpreter in your organization as they would help you in drafting documents as well as checking important messages for you which your other employees may have difficulty in doing.
3) Culture
In the presence of diverse cultures in today’s work environment, it is important to ensure that all are made comfortable in a business setting. When dealing with organizations from different countries, it is essential to take note of the differences and to respect different cultures. One of the main challenges that could arise due to cultural differences is that “What might seem like a good/ positive thing in your culture may be taken negatively in another culture”.
The measures that could be implemented to take care of cultural barriers are –
- Learn about different cultures: To be able to avoid cultural issues, it is important to understand more about other cultures. Depending on the culture, decide the words and gestures that you could use to have a conversation.
- Communicate politely: When talking to people, ensure that you communicate using polite words or actions. This can be done by avoiding the use of slang words or phrases, and by using simple words.
- Avoid bias: Avoid the urge to pass quick judgments on what other people are doing and take your time to ask them about the same or to quietly observe. When communicating with clients from different cultures make sure not to make them feel different because of the cultures they follow.
With the help of these measures, you will surely be able to minimize any communication challenges that may arise because of time zone, language, or cultural differences.
Reference:
https://takeitpersonelly.com/2018/01/02/5-ways-to-overcome-cultural-barriers-in-the-workplace/
https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/teams-in-different-timezones
https://www.argotrans.com/blog/9-steps-overcoming-language-barriers