Observation of team behaviour:Intercultural and Interpersonal communication

“Sympathy is based on cultural similarities…....Empathy is based on accepting differences and building on these in a positive manner.”
—Richard D. Lewis’s book ‘When Cultures Collide”

Intercultural and interpersonal communication is of great importance in this global arena where we need to interact with people from different countries and cultures who behave, communicate and perceive the world around them in a different manner.

My CG1413 team comprises of people from different races and culture. There is a Vietnamese, a Chinese and me, an Indian. In the beginning we were formal with each other as we had no idea how that other person would react to our words. As time passed, we started knowing each other better. While working in the team; I ensure effective intercultural communication so that I don’t offend my teammates. We try to understand each other and the cultural differences between us by sharing our past experiences.

However, language forms one of the biggest barriers in intercultural communication. I remember once my teammate said that while interacting with us he makes sure that he does not use Singlish. Often we come across situations when people from a different culture are talking in their own language that we fail to understand. Here is a short video depicting how an Italian person got misinterpreted in a foreign land:



I believe that respect for each other’s culture is necessary to bridge the intercultural gap. Every individual has his own perspective of looking at things. Sometimes intentions are also misinterpreted so it is important that we don’t jump to conclusions without understanding the situation. The video below depicts the meaning of silence in Japanese culture and how it varies along different cultures. It shows the power of silence in different situations.



Hence, I believe that it is necessary to be sensitive towards the different cultures and respect them to ensure effective intercultural and interpersonal communication.

Communication and teamwork : What they are to me?

Communication forms an integral part of our everyday life. Living in a multiracial society we have to interact with different kinds of people. Sometimes a word may mean differently to the speaker and the receiver which might lead to great confusion. Hence it is of utmost importance that we communicate correctly. To communicate effectively, we must learn to be a good speaker as well as a good listener. I feel that along with words non verbal means like body language and posture also form an essential part of effective communication.

Here is a short interesting video depicting bad communication skills in our everyday life:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnpPf25I7hk

Teamwork is essential for competing in today’s global arena where individual perfection is not as desirable as a level of collective performance. As Babe Ruth said, “The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don't play together, the club won't be worth a dime.”

Looking back into the past, I have worked in teams in my school projects where the team comprised of the people whom I knew. Last semester in NUS mostly involved individual work. However, this semester all our CEG modules have team projects as part of their curriculum.

I personally feel that working in teams is totally different from individual work. When we work in teams we owe the responsibility of the team’s performance i.e. all the teammates are dependent on each other. At times, the team members may differ in opinion due to difference in working styles, ideology etc. But it is necessary that we understand each other and help one another whenever needed. I think working in teams is an enriching experience as we get to learn a lot from other team members by interacting with them and sharing our ideas.

Today’s increasing global economy places a premium on teamwork and communication. Therefore, I believe that in order to have a successful personal and professional life it is essential to possess effective communication and teamwork skills.