Cultural Communication Styles: task orientated compared to people orientated
Before you read: some questions to help you think about the topic and the words you might need.
How do you think your culture’s communication style is different to another’s?
How important are human relationships in your culture in business/normal?
Are you a people orientated person? What this means is that relationships are more important than tasks. A people orientated person gives more weight to the other person’s feelings and they will ask less direct questions. For example a people orientated person would not ask “When will you finish the job?” to an office coworker, instead they might say, “How is everything with that job you are doing?” A task orientated person would ask the first question because they see things as a list of tasks that need to be achieved, and that is why they like to get to the point. It is often said that British style is less direct than American because in British culture considering the other person’s feelings is important. A task orientated person would see a less direct person as beating around the bush.
On the other hand task orientated people tend to focus on specific details because they think it is more important to save time and to achieve objectives effectively. However, these people can sometimes lose the deal because they don’t place emphasis on building and keeping relationships. And this style of doing business might work in their home country’s culture, but be totally unacceptable in a less direct culture.
Guessing meaning from context (the words around that word or phrase).
Try to guess the meaning of the words in bold and match them with their closest meaning from the choices in the right. Some of the answers are very close and have similar meaning.
The answers are below the table.
|
orientated |
A |
1 |
Higher value to one thing more than other things |
|
gives more weight |
B |
2 |
Wasting time being indirect, not saying what you want or mean directly |
|
get to the point |
C |
3 |
Probable, most likely |
|
beating around the bush |
D |
4 |
Put more importance on one thing |
|
On the other hand |
E |
5 |
To reach a conclusion, to say what you really mean or want |
|
tend |
F |
6 |
To fail, the negotiation does not end in a sale |
|
lose the deal |
G |
7 |
Position, view, what is important, where something is |
|
place emphasis |
H |
8 |
The opposite idea or view |
A=7, B=1, C=5, D=2, E=8, F=3, G=6, H=4
Some example sentences using the new words to help you to better understand their meaning.
1. The new president is more orientated towards social problems.
2. In the speaking test more weight is given to fluency than grammar ability.
3. In some jobs like policemen it is important to get to the point when asking questions. There is no time to beat around the bush in an emergency situation.
4. I like the summer best; on the other hand I don’t like August because it is too uncomfortable.
5. In class students who are nervous tend to sit at the back of the room.
6. We lost the deal because we could not deliver the products on time.
7. In Korea, Samsung places a lot of emphasis on after sales service (AS).
Some discussion questions using the new words to help you better understand the word meaning and how to use them correctly. Try to use the words in your answer.
1. Are you (or your culture) more task or people orientated? Can you give an example?
2. In Korean business is more weight put on relationships than other cultures? What advice would you give to someone doing business in Korea?
3. How do you feel about people who don’t get to the point quickly? If someone were beating around the bush would you speak directly and ask them to get to the point?
4. Is it true that people in Korean culture tend to be more people orientated? On the other hand are there times when Korean people are more direct?
5. What things should a person learn about your culture to not lose a deal?
6. In your culture what do people place the most emphasis on when making friendships/business relationships?
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