What Are Some Strategies to Increase Cross Cultural Communication with Africa?

Individuals in a variety of fields such as business, international relations, and communications, will certainly benefit from learning strategies to increase cross cultural communication with Africa.

The best way to determine appropriate strategies to increase cross cultural communication in Africa would be for representatives from various parts of the continents to come together to discuss what is most suitable for them.

Here are some basic starting ideas to use in strengthening communication with Africa:

• Open Lines of Communication
• Ending Stereotypes
• Mediation for Disputes
• Pre-Test Remarks

Open Lines Of Communication

Ambassadors and representatives need to know that they are able to communicate with one another. Of course, that situation requires that they are comfortable and feel that the other side is open to suggestions and ideas. It also requires that people are actually able to get in touch with one another.

The United States and Africa are quite far away from each other. Therefore, a system of support-whether it be through telephone or Internet-needs to be in place so that communications can occur instantly.

Ending Stereotypes

The United States has often received bad press for trying to push their values on another nations. Perhaps the US needs to make it clear to Africa that it is not trying to demand a certain action by another nation. This statement holds true for any nations with which we are trying to establish or strengthen relationships.

Stereotypes are particularly important to consider when we are discussing cultural issues. Africa, and any other continent or country, must know that we are trying to learn more about their cultural and to improve cultural ties, and not that we are trying to push our own culture on them.

Mediation for Disputes

All situations and encounters between any two places are not going to run smoothly. A mediator should be chosen in advance, so that there is somewhere to help handle arguments.

An argument between nations can quickly escalate into a full fledged war. Once a war occurs, cultural ties are often severed because people feel alienated from their opponent. Alienation is the opposite of improving cultural communication.

Consider choosing an intermediary that is familiar with both of the cultures. Sometimes problems arise because one party cannot understand what the other party's culture means or why it is significant. Someone who is in the middle and can see both sides helps to bring relief to that matter.

Pre-Test Remarks

When two areas are trying to establish better communications with one another, chances are they the community at large will be addressed in some way or another by a member from the other party. In this case, a letter or an open statement might be issued to Africa from America or from America to Africa. Whatever the case is, the letter or other remarks should be pre-tested in ensure that they fully deliver the intended point without adding cultural discord.

This aspect goes along with the mediation element, because sometimes one side will take offense to something that was not meant to be offensive at all and is a trademark of the other culture.

We know that words can be subjective, so we must be careful with how we use them.