Cultural and Communication Memo

MEMO To: HR Team From: Date: Subject: Building a Great Communication Culture Across Diverse Cultures Ensuring our workplace has an excellent communication culture has become even more critical lately, with our operations spanning over 25 countries globally. Efficient communication is crucial for collaboration and getting the best employee experience, motivation, and engagement. The heart of our company is based on the strength of our communication culture, and we know that this is core to unlocking the full potential of what we can be but also crucial as a key driver for business success. This memo will look at two culturally varied countries, Japan and the United States, to examine their manner of communication within the workplace and how they express emotions. This can prevent or even aid us in building an integrative communicative culture. Selected Cultures Japan and the United States provide vast opportunities to observe the differences in communication that play a crucial role in shaping the organizational climate. By identifying those differences and similarities, we should be able to help our employees by providing them with the necessary knowledge and resources they can use to have effective cross-cultural interactions and provide an improved experience for everyone in the workplace. Workplace Communication and the Expression of Emotions Workplace Communication There are distinct differences in the overall communication styles in the workplace between Japan and the United States. In Japan, people are very polite, and when they talk to each other, they speak very formally. The organizational culture respects hierarchy, and employees are to bow to their seniors. For instance, Japanese employees bow to their superiors and use polite language when communicating. However, the absence of talk is also a communication method (Takeuchi, 2023). Employees here might be unwilling to challenge their superiors or say things in opposition because of the considerable formalization of processes. This aligns with the Japanese cultural value of ‘harmony,’ or ‘we,’ where conflict is avoided at all costs. The United States tends to exhibit more direct and informal communication in the workplace. In most American organizations, employees can freely express themselves, including when expressing an opinion different from that of their boss or subordinates (Neill & Bowen, 2021). Compared with the work environment of other countries, the United States promotes free communication, fast decisions, and high individualism. Workers will challenge, or give their opinion, which is perceived as participation and creativity. Some signs of rank and title are also present, but the degree of formalization is much less than in Japan. The Expression of Emotions The expression of emotions also differs significantly between the two cultures. Japanese culture, in general, is conservative, and individuals are discouraged from displaying emotions at the workplace or in a corporate environment. Regarding emotional expressions, anger or any intensity of p...