ABSTRACT
We know that most leaders of organizations spend upwards of 70 to 90 percent of their time communicating with others, and only about 25 percent of their time alone. 4 These days, with smartphones, pads, email, texting, and interactive electronic media, much of our “alone” time is spent with others as well. We also know that all business undertakings are comprised of communication. We have learned from experience, and from extensive interaction with expatriates from all over the globe, that participating in these cross-cultural communications and interactions while working internationally can be very challenging. This may be especially true when living or working in a foreign cultural environment. We, however, exchange email, text messages, or phone calls with our business associates in China, Japan, Korea, or aImost anywhere worldwide at any moment, engaging in cross-cultural communication without being aware of it. Electronic communication may be very culturally conditioned especially in ways we are not conscious, so we must always be on guard against culturally inappropriate interactions.
