Communicating at Work: Chapt. 2

Culture

A learned set of shared interpretations about beliefs, values, and norms that affect the behaviors of a relatively large group of people.

Organizational Culture

The way that people describe how organizations do their own way of business; different methods to achieve the same goal.

Co-cultures

Groups that have a clear identity within the majority of a culture (e.g., race, ethnicity, social class, generation).

Cultural Intelligence (CQ)

The ability to adapt to new cultural settings.

CQ Drive

The motivation to learn about different cultures.

CQ Knowledge

Knowing how culture shapes people’s behaviors, values, and beliefs.

CQ Strategy

Using culturally sensitive communication.

CQ Action

How one behaves and reacts to difficult situations.

Low-Context Culture

A culture which primarily uses language to express thoughts, feelings, and ideas as clearly and logically as possible.

High-Context Culture

A culture that relies heavily on subtle often nonverbal cues to convey meaning, save face, and maintain social harmony.

Individualistic Culture

Cultures that prioritize personal achievements and individual rights over group goals, emphasizing self-reliance and independence.

Collectivist Culture

A culture with tight social frameworks in which members of a group feel primary loyalty to one another and their belonging group.

Power Distance

Attitudes toward differences in authority.

Uncertainty Avoidance

The measure of a culture’s tolerance for lack of predictability.

Masculinity

A culture’s values expressed in stereotypical gender roles, focusing on material success, competition, power, and assertiveness.

Femininity

A culture that embraces more stereotypically feminine values, such as helping others and prioritizing relationships.

Long-Term Orientation

A culture that defers gratification in pursuit of long-range goals.

Short-Term Orientation

A culture that looks for quick payoffs.

Microaggressions

Subtle, often unintentional comments or actions that can be perceived as dismissive or derogatory, especially towards marginalized groups.

Monochronic

Cultures which see time as being almost tangible, emphasizing the need to 'save time'.

Polychronic

Cultures which see time as more fluid, allowing meetings to continue as long as necessary.