Abandon Nest

Every day I have to talk with people from China and India. Being from the Midwest of the United States, this concept is nearly totally foreign to me (get it, foreign… I’m awesome when it comes to puns).  Anyways, as I’ve gotten better at talking to these people, I’ve compiled a set of tips to share. Read and learn my soon to be multi-cultural communicators.

• Don’t yell over the phone - Most businesspeople from overseas know and understand English quite well. You don’t have to sit there and yell over the conference call line to get your point across. In fact, you’ll probably be looked on as rude and loud. Talk in a normal speaking tone.
• Listen intently - Face it, you may have trouble understanding someone because of an accent or their lack of great English skills. However, listening with a careful ear will allow you to avoid any embarassing misunderstandings that may arise.
• Ask for a repeat - A lot of the time if you don’t hear something, just ask your contact to repeat their statement or question. They’ll be happy to oblige and, in all likelihood, they’ll more carefully word their response.
• Compliment their English - I’ll tell you the truth. A lot of the Indian guys I speak to have better English skills then most of my friends. That speaks volumes for their work ethic and drive. If you get a chance, compliment them on their skills. I’m sure they’ll appreciate it.
• Use the written word - If all else fails, use a nonverbal communication device like instant messenger or email. That way, both parties are more likely to understand what is going on. I like using email because you have a record of what was said. That way if something does go awry, you have documents to back yourself up.

Employ these tips and you should be communicating well with people from around the world in no time.