In the words of MacIver and Page, culture is “the

realm of designs, of values, of emotional attachments, of

intellectual adventures”. It is the whole ‘social heritage’ that
the individual receives from the group.
Characteristics of culture
Culture is learned: culture is not inherited biologically, but
learned socially by man. It is not an inborn tendency. There is
no
cultural instinct as such. Culture is usually called ‘learned ways
of behavior’.
Neither is it an individual phenomenon. It is a product of
society. It originates and develops through social interactions.
A baby can be raised in any culture, and he or she will learn that
culture, that religion, that language, and the skills that are
important in that culture, whether it’s spear-throwing or
computer programming. We learn our culture as we grow up in
it, through a process called enculturation. It is also known
as socialization.

Think about this. All humans have the same basic physical
needs, for example, food, sleep, and shelter, but the way that
they meet those needs is based on culture. For example,
everyone needs food. But different cultures eat at different
times during the day, prepare food differently, and eat different
foods. And you did not discover on your own what is considered
food in your culture and what isn’t, you learned that from other
people. So while everyone needs food, culture tells us how to
fulfill that need. And this is done through the process of
enculturation. Each person learns the way their culture does
things and the way their culture satisfies those basic human
needs

Culture is passed along: culture is the sociological sense, is

something shared. It is not something that an individual alone
can possess.
Culture is something that a group of people shares–it is the
passed on practices and understandings. People in the same
culture can interact with each other without constant
misunderstandings (for the most part) because everyone
understands each other’s thoughts and actions. For example, if
you are Indian, you fold your hands to say namaste, and all
other Indians know you are greetingthem . But if you are from
another culture, and you see a folded hand, you might think the
person wants you to something from you, or maybe you’d think
that they are going to hit you. Because you are from a different
culture, you don’t have the same shared understanding of what
an outstretched hand means.

Culture is consistent and integrated: culture, in its

development, has revealed a tendency to be consistent. At the
same time, different parts of culture are interconnected.
Culture is a complex system, made up of many parts that are
interconnected and related to each other. Some examples of the
parts of culture are education, technology, marriage, medicine,
economics, family, beliefs and religion, government, and
language. When one part of the system changes, other parts
also change, since everything is connected. One part can
influence the others. For example, a few generations ago, Indian
women were homemakers and mothers. But, now, most Indian
women are in the workforce. Because of this change, other
parts of Indian culture changed, such as attitudes towards
marriage and family. Also, now there are daycare centers to
care for children while the mothers go to work. Because one
part of the cultural system changed, other parts changed as
well.

But not all the parts of a culture are interconnected in that way.
Some parts of a culture may be in opposition to each other. For
example, there are conflicts between workers and
management. Workers want to maximize their wages, while
management wants to maximize profit. These things are
opposed to each other, but they are still part of one cultural
system.

There are three interdependent parts to a cultural system–the

infrastructure, the social structure, and the superstructure. First
is the infrastructure–the economic base. This is the type of
subsistence, meaning how people make a living, and how they
produce goods and services, and how they distribute these
goods and services. Second is the social structure. The social
structure is the social organization, meaning how people are
arranged in society. This includes things like families,
associations, and politics. Third, there is the superstructure. The
superstructure is the ideology, meaning the worldview of the
people–how they perceive themselves and the world around
them. It is a shared sense of identity and includes things like
beliefs, values, and religion.

Culture is dynamic : Though culture is

comparatively stable it's not altogether static. It is subject to
slow but constant changes. Change and growth are latent in
culture.
And now let’s move on to the last of the characteristics of
culture–culture is dynamic. Cultures are not static–they change
over time. But why do they change? One way they change is
through diffusion. Diffusion is the spreading of an idea, thing, or
behavior between cultures. Cultures are not isolated–different
cultures have been in contact with each other throughout
history.

Yet another way cultures can change is through independent

invention. This is when people find new ways of solving
problems. However, many times people in different cultures
have come up with the same solution to a problem, each on
their own. For example, agriculture was invented in both the
Middle East and Mexico–not because the cultures were in
contact, but because both cultures came up with agriculture
independently as a way to solve the problem of providing food
to people in that society.
Another reason cultures change is due to globalization.
Different cultures around the world are now interlinked and
interdependent–we live in a global village. Globalization
involves the spread of culture, usually Western culture, around
the world through forces like international business, travel and
tourism, the media and the internet, and migration.

Other characteristics of culture include

Culture is Shared, Adaptive, symbolic,

Intercultural communication in professional context

The modern work environment has evolved massively over

recent years. The world’s population is more mobile than ever,
the Internet has enabled business to seamlessly traverse
countries and continents, and the rise of remote work means
that a workforce is no longer constrained by geographical
location. These changes mean that today’s workplace has a
wonderfully diverse mix of people, with co-workers from many
different cultures and backgrounds working alongside each
other.
This is an undoubtedly positive development that enriches the
experience of work and reflects the vibrant multicultural world
we live in. It also presents challenges that need to be risen to in
order to make sure the workplace is an inclusive and supportive
environment. Different cultures can have different norms, and
the meaning of body language can vary greatly from one
culture to the next. These factors and more can lead to
miscommunication, which can in turn create discomfort and
stress for employees. This makes effective intercultural
communication more important than ever, and here we are
going to outline how you can achieve best practice in this area,
and why it is vital to do so.

What Is Intercultural Communication?

When communication takes place across different cultural and
social groups, this is essentially intercultural communication. It
encompasses communication between people from different
religious, ethnic, educational, and social backgrounds.

Communication styles can vary greatly between cultures. In

some cultures, the workplace is more formal, and managers or
bosses are always addressed as 'sir' or 'madam', whereas in
other cultures things are much more informal with employees
of all levels addressing each other on a first-name basis. The
meaning of facial expressions can also vary between cultures,
and some cultures may be considered more expressive than
others.
Taking these cultural differences into account and using this
knowledge to improve communication skills and understanding
between cultures is the key to good intercultural
communication.
By encouraging individuals to engage with each other, it will
help new starts to feel more at home
What Is the Importance of Intercultural Communication in the
Workplace?
A major factor that has pushed intercultural communication
into a position of great importance for companies is the rise
of remote work. Companies can now hire from anywhere in the
world and attract talent regardless of geographical location.
The use of email finding tools makes it even easier to connect
with people in different countries. Our globalized economy also
means that there have never been more opportunities for
people to work in different countries and cultures. These
factors naturally lead to people from diverse backgrounds
working alongside each other, and this brings the importance of
intercultural communication into focus.
Good intercultural communication is crucial for both preventing
potential conflicts in the workplace and for resolving them. It is
the ideal tool for breaking down cultural barriers and for
developing an awareness of different cultural norms.
There are major benefits for organizations that have a diverse
workforce. When a company is home to people of differing
backgrounds, it allows space for a multitude of perspectives to
be brought to the table. This openness to a diverse range of
viewpoints has been shown to make companies more
innovative.
Effective cross-cultural communication fosters a sense of
inclusion in the workplace, which in turn helps to boost
employee retention rates and to reduce absenteeism. People
who feel included and valued are much less likely to look for a
different job and they even take less time off sick. Good
intercultural communication is also vital at every level of the
company structure, right up to C-suite. It has been shown that
organizations that have gender-diverse top-level management
teams perform much better than organizations that are less
diverse.
For a company to succeed on a global scale and for team
leaders and managers to bring out the best in the workforce,
the importance of intercultural communication needs to be
understood and acted upon.

What Are Some Tips To Improve Communication Skills?

1. Keep an open mind and be flexible

2. Promote an understanding of diversity

3. Encourage one-to-one interactions

4. Facilitate induction courses

How Does Intercultural Communication Affect Diversity in the

Workplace?
When an organization is utilizing strong intercultural
communication practices, diversity in the workplace is nurtured
and given the opportunity to thrive. Team members from
different cultural backgrounds and with different cultural values
feel included and understood and feel like their viewpoints are
being taken into account.

An increase in cultural diversity in the workplace has been

shown to have a number of benefits, such as decreases
in employee turnover and an increase in productivity and
innovation. These benefits can only be realized when there is a
priority placed on intercultural communication. When there is a
lack of cultural awareness, miscommunications can take place,
and employees can even feel alienated and excluded, and no
group of people should feel this way in the workplace.
What Are Some Common Barriers To Intercultural
Communication?
Achieving good intercultural communication doesn’t happen
automatically and always requires a level of work. However,
there are some common obstacles that you will encounter in
most modern workplaces.

Different cultures also experience differing levels of

government involvement in managing the pandemic, with
different world leaders setting examples that can often be at
odds with each other. Even within cultures people’s approach
to the pandemic can vary greatly. This presents both a big
challenge and an opportunity for practicing good intercultural
communication. Taking the time to understand the perspective
of other groups and finding ways to communicate effectively
about this topic is an ideal setting for developing better
communication skills.
Another potential difficulty for intercultural communication is
the variations in nonverbal communication between cultures.
For some cultures, nonverbal communication is a key tool in
communicating effectively, whereas for other cultures
nonverbal cues are kept to a minimum. Also, while there are
certain parts of nonverbal communication that are universal,
such as smiling when you’re happy, some nonverbal gestures
can mean different things in different cultures. Taking the time
to understand the differences is vital.

Employees who are working in a culture that is different from

their own may even experience culture shock and find it hard to
adjust to the new cultural norms they are working in. Someone
who has been used to referring to their boss as ‘sir’ or ‘madam’
may find it very strange to start informally using their superior’s
first name. Over time, the culture shock will subside, but at the
beginning it can be very disruptive for new starts and
organizations should be mindful of this risk.

The rise of remote work has made workforces more diverse

than ever, but it also can present challenges for
communication. When employees are based in a physical office,
there are more opportunities to engage in direct
communication and to learn about the norms of each other's
culture. When communication is largely through scheduled
meetings, emails and messaging services, it can be harder to
foster the sense of inclusion that is necessary. However, it is far
from impossible, and with the right care and attention good
intercultural communication can be achieved regardless of the
medium it happens through. To enhance inclusivity and ensure
effective intercultural communication, leveraging email
lists and employing an email verifier can help maintain accurate
and up-to-date contact information, enabling seamless
communication across diverse teams.
Conclusion

Intercultural communication competence is essential in our

increasingly interconnected world, especially in the context of
globalization and international business.

Effective interpersonal communication across cultural groups

requires an understanding of diverse cultural identities, which
are influenced by factors such as ethnicity, nationality, and
social norms