Sample Response
Cross-Cultural
Communication
Working across borders? Learn how to soften your language, read between the lines, and avoid costly cultural misunderstandings.
What’s going on here?
Is he in love with me or what?
Can you back up a little?
Global Mindset
Have you ever had a misunderstanding with someone from another country?
Do people in your culture speak very directly, or do they soften their words?
How important is small talk before getting down to business in your culture?
Direct to Smart Polite
In international business, being too direct can sound rude. Tap the cards to see how to “soften” your language to sound more polite.
This idea is bad.
I’m not sure if this is a good idea.
You made a mistake.
I think you might have mixed up something.
I don’t understand.
Could you elaborate on that a bit more?
We can’t do that.
We might not be able to do that.
Do this now.
Would it be possible to prioritize this?
I disagree.
I am afraid I disagree.
Respond to Them
Use your new “Smart Polite” phrases to reply to your colleagues. Tap the cards to reveal a suggested answer!
“I believe employees should not be allowed to use phones in the office.”
Disagree politely and explain the reason.
“I am afraid I disagree. I’m not sure if this is a good idea, as people might need their phones for urgent family matters.”
“Everything is ready, can I send this email to the client now?”
Say there is a mistake and explain.
“I think you might have mixed up something. There is a small mistake in the attachment that we should fix first.”
“Let’s hold a party for John’s birthday!”
Explain that we can’t do it because of an urgent task.
“We might not be able to do that right now. Would it be possible to celebrate next week instead, since we have an urgent deadline?”
Natural Dialogues
John, I reviewed your proposal. You made a mistake with the timeline. We can’t do that by Friday.
Oh, really? Why not?
The software integration takes three days. I disagree with your estimate. Update the schedule and do this now.
Okay, got it. I’ll make the changes right away.
In direct cultures (like Germany or the Netherlands), getting straight to the point is respected. It is not considered rude.
Hi John, how was your weekend?
Great, thanks! Did you look at the proposal?
Yes, thanks for sending it. It’s a strong proposal, but I think you might have mixed up something with the timeline.
Oh, is it too tight?
Yes, because of the integration, we might not be able to do that by Friday. I am afraid I disagree with the estimate.
Makes sense. I’ll update it to Tuesday instead.
Thank you. Would it be possible to prioritize this? We need to send it to the client today.
In indirect cultures (like Japan or the UK), softening the language and starting with small talk is crucial to maintain harmony and “save face.”
Scenario Practice
Let’s Chat
Have you ever worked with someone from a different country? What did you notice?
Do you think small talk is a waste of time in business, or is it important?
How do you usually handle a situation when you disagree with your boss?
Have you ever felt offended by an email that was just “too direct”?
How do you deal with time zone differences when working globally?
Do you think humor and jokes translate well across different cultures?
Lesson Recap
Audio Summary
Listen to a quick recap of today’s lesson, featuring tips on reading between the lines and using diplomacy in global teams.