Watch what you speak! (Observation of team behaviour: Intercultural and Interpersonal Communication)

A famous man once said,

If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart

That person is none other than Nelson Mandela, a former South African statesman and Nobel Laureate, who was instrumental in the abolishment of the apartheid in South Africa.

Being born a Singaporean Chinese has its merits. Most of my peers, like me, are bilingual in two of the most spoken languages in the world: English and Mandarin. We are especially susceptible to staying within our comfort zone, where the Chinese would prefer interacting with Chinese, the Malays with Malays, and likewise with the Indians and other minority races. Even then, Singapore is largely peaceful with little or no cases of racial tensions (we could probably credit that to racial harmony day =p).

I could still recall the fateful day where a conversation took place between my group of four friends, back in my army days:

Me: “Chinese new year’s almost here, can’t wait to book out and enjoy all the new year goodies. Yay! "

Friend A: “Yea, thinking of all the food is making me salivate, yum. “

Me: “Especially BAK KWA! (it’s actually tasty BBQ minced pork meat slices) Let’s gather at my house during CNY and we can eat all the bak kwa in the world. Nothing taste better than bak kwa right?”

Friend B: “Sorry Justin, I don’t eat pork”.

It was only then I realized my mistake. Friend B was a staunch Muslim who cringes at the ‘p’ word. I immediately apologized for my insensitivity. Fortunately, B forgave me and we still remained as good friends.

Therefore, regardless of how mundane or trivial certain issues can be, we should never let our guard down, as someone may just be offended by our words or actions. These misunderstandings could transpire into something more sinister and violent as in the case in Malaysia just recently.

The use of the word “Allah” by Christians in Malaysia resulted in arson and vandalism of several churches. The misuse of the word was perhaps non-malicious; however, some Muslims probably overreacted without much thought. And just today, internet reports have published articles that several mosques in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, were desecrated with pig’s head, probably as a form of retaliation against the Muslim’s acts of violence. This clearly shows cultural differences and the lack of communications in its full glory.

Certain people are more sensitive to things that insult or hurt them, thus, cultural differences is something we should be constantly aware of. The 'pork example' above, though insignificant, is never trivial enough to garner a violent response from the other party. How else would Jihad emerge? The extremists did not surface from their little holes just to poke some fun at the Americans, they did it because of clashes in beliefs. Whilst my stand may be a tad extreme, it is imperative that we do not take cultural differences for granted.

Provoked, they would hurt you where you least expect.

People make mistakes. At times where we are in a company of someone who has vastly different backgrounds, cultures and beliefs, we should constantly watch what we speak and be respectful towards him. These could be the people we work with for large parts of our lives. By being able to communicate effectively, and at the same time foster excellent ties with these people, we would hope to live a more peaceful and pleasant life.

Communications and Teamwork: Why they are important for me

Back when Homo Erectus and Neanderthals roamed the earth, none had the luxury of modern inventions like the telephones or email. There was no long distance interaction to speak of. Communications were largely confined to the limited spaces of the air around them. Language use was probably rudimentary and primitive. However, with the passing of time, coupled with the enormous brain of our ancient ancestors, the modern human beings have evolved. Lo and behold, people are communicating more than ever.

Simple as it may be, communications is an essential part of our daily lives. The moment we speak, whatever we say is interpreted and inferred by the receiver. How successful the intended message is deciphered, really depends on the choice of words, the tone, and the body language.

Communicating is easy, communicating effectively is not.

Technology seeks to bridge the geological divide between people, allowing convenient communications via email, instant messaging and even video conferencing. What people rarely notice is the decline of actual human to human interactions that binds families and sustains relationships. Therefore, it is imperative for us to make any form of real human communications to be effective, impactful, and serve the desired purposes.

Being in university is certainly one platform for inter-personal communications to burgeon. This is where bonds are forged for life, and where one’s ability to share knowledge is of the utmost importance. Every now and then, we would be challenged to make a presentation in front of an intimidating audience. This calls for steely confidence that produces the smooth flowing presentation everyone yearns to give. Confidence is important, but am I able to bring my message across to everyone in the room? Being clear and concise is often the key to keeping the audience on their toes and knowing what the idea of the presentation is. This is where fine communications come into play.

Also, in today’s highly connected world, people from all over the globe come together and work together. Being an excellent communicator helps to break the ice amongst the group, and dissipate potential rifts that may occur due to racial and religious differences. Take one interesting example, the recent attention towards McDonald’s Singapore Doraemon soft toys clearly shows that the management staff did not perform its job well. Being sensitive, in this case, towards the Muslims and thereby removing the pig toy from the entire Chinese Zodiac Doraemon collection, resulted in a fairly large hoo-ha amongst the Chinese. If the management bothered to communicate with both the Malays and Chinese, it would realize that their concerns are largely uncalled for. An amicable result could be implemented instead. McDonald’s eventually buckled to public opinions and is offering the toy for sale now.

This example clearly depicts how effective communications is important not only to myself, but to society as a whole.

Teamwork is where a group of people work as a team, literally.

Teamwork actually involves a great deal of effective communications too.

Project discussions, for example, require us to be well equipped with the ability to share ideas, debate, conduct evaluations and so on. It is an uphill task to perform, juggling differing cultural backgrounds and personalities, and at the same time to prevent any conflicts within the teammates. Some thoughts would inevitably come to mind: Would I be able to overcome these obstacles? Would I be able to steer my group towards the goal and within the tight deadlines we have to adhere to?

Having great teamwork is already half the battle won. We do not want to waste valuable time solving conflicts within the team itself, in the working world, this would mean diminishing productivity, and in turn, loss in revenue for the company. That is why, picking good teammates is crucial. It is also of essence to note that having an “all star team” does not necessarily equate to success. I would not want to be in such a case, as often, there would be heated arguments. A most desirable team would be one that consists of people who are varied and equipped with differing skill sets. People who are able to complement one another, and work together are actually something that all teams should strive for. A highly motivated and bonded group would definitely outshine a group of over-achievers.

More drinking sessions anyone?? =p

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