Business Speaker Erin Meyer: How Cultural Differences Affect Business

Summary

The speaker recounts her journey from a monocultural upbringing in Minnesota to becoming an expert in cross-cultural communication. A pivotal moment in Japan, where she learned to 'read the air'—a Japanese concept of perceiving unspoken communication—sparked her interest in cultural nuances. This led to the development of a framework to help individuals better understand and navigate diverse cultural behaviors, such as building trust and decision-making processes across different global organizations.

Takeaways

• 🌐 The speaker has spent 16 years studying how cultural differences impact global organizations.
• 🏡 Raised in a monocultural environment in Minnesota, the speaker's understanding of cultural nuances developed later in life.
• 🗣️ An early career experience in Japan highlighted the importance of non-verbal communication in cross-cultural interactions.
• 👀 The speaker learned to recognize when Japanese participants had questions by observing their eye brightness and directness of gaze.
• 🤝 Direct eye contact is less common in Japan, which affects how questions are asked and answered in meetings.
• 🧠 The concept of 'reading the air' (kyōki yomenai or 'KY') in Japanese culture refers to the ability to pick up on unspoken communication cues.
• 📈 The speaker's interest in 'reading the air' led to the development of a framework to help people understand and adapt to different cultural behaviors.
• 🌍 The framework categorizes cultural behaviors and explores how trust is built and decisions are made across various cultures.
• 🔍 Patterns of cultural differences were identified through extensive research, allowing for a better understanding of how cultures diverge in their practices.
• 💡 With guidance, individuals from different cultures can improve their ability to interpret non-verbal cues and communicate effectively.

Q & A

What was the speaker's early cultural background?

The speaker was raised in a very monocultural place, Minnesota, in the midwest of the US.

What significant event during a trip to Japan sparked the speaker's interest in cross-cultural communication?

The speaker gave a presentation in Japan where no one initially raised their hands to ask questions. However, a Japanese colleague was able to identify and encourage participants who had questions by noticing their bright eyes, which led to the speaker's realization of the importance of non-verbal cues in communication.

What is the term 'kooky yomenai' or 'ky' in Japanese, and how does it relate to the speaker's experience?

'Kooky yomenai' or 'ky' in Japanese refers to someone who is unable to read the atmosphere or pick up on non-verbal communication cues. The speaker initially identified as 'ky' but learned to improve through observation and guidance.

How did the speaker's Japanese colleague demonstrate the ability to 'read the air'?

The Japanese colleague demonstrated the ability to 'read the air' by noticing the bright eyes and direct gaze of individuals in the audience, indicating their willingness to ask questions, despite not raising their hands.

What did the speaker learn about cultural differences in asking questions during the presentation in Japan?

The speaker learned that in Japan, people tend not to make as much direct eye contact as in Western cultures, and those who are looking directly at the speaker with bright eyes are more likely to have questions or comments.

What framework did the speaker and her team develop to help people better understand cultural behaviors?

The speaker and her team developed a framework based on extensive research that categorized cultural behaviors into different types, examining how trust is built and decisions are made across various cultures.

How did the speaker apply the lesson learned from her Japanese colleague during her next presentation?

During the next presentation, the speaker applied the lesson by looking for individuals with bright eyes and direct gaze, and she was able to identify and invite those who had questions to participate in the discussion.

What patterns did the speaker and her team identify in their research on cultural behaviors?

The speaker and her team identified patterns in how trust is built and decisions are made in different parts of the world, which helped them categorize cultures based on these behaviors.

How did the speaker's experience in Japan influence her career path?

The experience in Japan led the speaker to become interested in cross-cultural communication and to spend the next 16 years studying how cultural differences affect global organizations.

What is the significance of the speaker's realization about non-verbal cues in cross-cultural communication?

The speaker's realization about the importance of non-verbal cues, such as bright eyes and direct gaze, highlights the need for awareness and adaptability in cross-cultural interactions, which can lead to more effective communication and understanding.