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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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The Culture Map summary
Erin Meyer
Breaking Through the Invisible Boundaries of Global Business
21 mins
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The Culture Map
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Key idea 1 of 8
Being a good observer is sometimes more important than being a good speaker.
Why do we find communicating with people from other countries so challenging sometimes? We often have to deal with different temperaments, values and senses of humor.
In order to navigate these situations, we should try to avoid being what the Japanese call kuuki yomenai, which translates to someone who “cannot read the air.”
We can better “read the air” if we consider that communication styles can fall on a communicating scale, and be grouped into low-context cultures and high-context cultures.
Western countries, such as the USA or Australia, are known as low-context cultures, where communication is precise and clear in order to avoid misinterpretation. Contrastingly, communication in high-context cultures in countries such as Japan or Korea are more subtle and layered and often require reading between the lines to understand what is meant.
No country, however, is 100 percent low or high context. French managers, for instance, tend to be more high-context than German managers, but are low-context compared to Chinese managers.
Why do different countries have different contexts? The answers can be found in history. High-context cultures like Japan have had largely a homogenous population, therefore people became tuned to subtle nuances in communication and developed skills in “reading the air.”
American history, on the other hand, is much shorter and has been strongly influenced by immigrants, requiring their communication to be explicit to avoid misunderstandings.
So how can you work well with other cultures? You need to strike a balance between listening and speaking. When working with high-context cultures, listen for meaning and not what is actually spoken. Pay attention to changes in body language, like head-shaking or noticing self-restraint that shrouds the meaning of a message.
The opposite is true when working with low-context cultures. You should be as specific as possible and take time to explain yourself clearly.
When multiple cultures are working together, the most effective method of communication is to use the low-context style as this causes fewer misunderstandings.
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What is The Culture Map about?
The Culture Map provides a framework for handling intercultural differences in business and illustrates how different cultures perceive the world. It helps us understand these differences, and in doing so improves our ability to react to certain behaviors that might have once seemed strange. With this knowledge, we can avoid misunderstandings and maintain conflict-free communication, regardless of where we are in the world.
The Culture Map Review
The Culture Map by Erin Meyer (2014) delves into the unseen factors that influence cross-cultural interactions, making it essential for navigating global business dynamics. Here's why this book stands out:
- It provides insights into cultural nuances that affect communication and collaboration, offering practical strategies for bridging cultural gaps.
- By examining eight key scales that shape each culture's workplace behavior, it equips readers with a deeper understanding of cultural diversity.
- The book's rich anecdotes and real-world examples keep readers engaged and enlightened, ensuring a stimulating and informative read.
Best quote from The Culture Map
It is only when you start to identify what makes your culture different from others that you can begin to open a dialogue of sharing, learning and ultimately understanding.
—Erin Meyer
Who should read The Culture Map?
- Anyone who’s interested in understanding cultural differences at work
- Anyone who wants to improve his or her communications skills
- Anyone who is leading an international team and is facing culture clashes
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The Culture Map FAQs
What is the main message of The Culture Map?
Understanding cultural differences is crucial for effective global communication and collaboration.
How long does it take to read The Culture Map?
Reading The Culture Map takes a few hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in around 15 minutes.
Is The Culture Map a good book? Is it worth reading?
The Culture Map is a valuable read, offering insights on navigating cultural nuances for successful interactions.
Who is the author of The Culture Map?
The author of The Culture Map is Erin Meyer.
What to read after The Culture Map?
If you're wondering what to read next after The Culture Map, here are some recommendations we suggest:
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- Raising Mentally Strong Kids by Amen MD Daniel G. & Charles Fay
- The Problem with Change by Ashley Goodall
- Bad Therapy by Abigail Shrier
- Read People Like a Book by Patrick King
- Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami