SOME EXAMPLES ON HOW CROSS CULTURAL MISUNDERSTANDING HAPPEN – SHARE THIS CHART WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES TO START SOLVING THEM
When your Israeli colleague says…
Israelis usually mean…
Someone from another culture might hear / think…
You are wrong
I disagree with your point of view and want to discuss it some more so that we can reach agreement on the best approach
You are insulting me. There is no room for discussion because you have negated me. I should back off and not discuss this anymore.
No problem
We’re good
Some lingering problem here, I will need to make more effort to fix this
When your American colleague says…
Americans usually mean…
Israelis usually hear / think…
I would appreciate if you could get this done by Monday
The ‘drop-dead’, final deadline for this is Monday
It would be nice to get it done by Monday, but not essential. Later than Monday will also be okay
When someone from another culture says….
Someone from another culture may mean…
Israelis usually hear / think…
That is an original suggestion
You must be crazy to suggest that
Good suggestion – originality is highly valued.