In this issue
	CHEERS! Hello from Cheech and Chong Inter-cultural sensitivities Question Time: Thanks and Regards And finally ...

Hello from Cheech and Chong

Guess what I forgot to do in February? I forgot to announce the winner of the 'Choose a name for my monkeys' competition. I'd like to send a special thanks to all of you who wrote in with suggestions for names - there were so many that I was inundated with choice. The winner was Lesley Bolan from Saffron Walden in England. Thanks Lesley - my monkeys are now known as Cheech (for the female on the right) and Chong (for the male on the left). Cheech and Chong say thank you for naming them, Lesley, and you will shortly be receiving a complimentary copy of my latest book Model Business Letters, E-mails and Other Business Documents courtesy of Pearson Education UK. Read more about Model Business Letters 6th edition »

Inter-cultural sensitivities

Many businesses today operate on a global scale, and our culturally diverse workforce is made up of people from different countries, ethnic backgrounds, races, religion and family structure. If you are to communicate effectively with all these different people, it is important to keep an open mind and try to learn as much as possible about their various cultures, and be sensitive to them. From group to group, cultures differ considerably. When you communicate with someone from a different culture, you normally do so using the theories and beliefs of your own culture. However, when your audience receives your message, they do so based on the assumptions of their own culture. As a result of basic cultural differences, misunderstandings could easily occur, and often do. The belief that one's own cultural background is superior to all others is known as ethnocentrism. This creates a barrier to effective communication because the mind remains closed to new information. Ethnocentric people tend to form pre-conceived judgements of different cultures based on one experience, or based on limited evidence. If you want to avoid ethnocentrism, you should: recognise differences. Accept and acknowledge that there are distinctions between your own cultures and those of other people. avoid assumptions. Bear in mind that others may not act in the same way as you, nor will they have the same fundamental theories or beliefs. do not pre-judge. If people act differently to you, do not automatically assume that they are wrong, that their way is unacceptable, or that your cultures and customs are more superior to theirs. If you wish to communicate effectively in a culturally diverse workforce, you will want to read the rest of this article about inter-cultural sensitivities and ethnocentrism. And don't miss my checklist for communicating effectively across cultures. Just click on the link below to take you to the rest of this article. Read more about inter-cultural sensitivities and ethnocentrism »

Question Time: Thanks and Regards

I am often asked questions by newsletter subscribers and workshop participants. This month I am looking at one recent question. If you have a question please put 'Question Time' in the subject line, and write to me at news@shirleytaylor.com. Question: "As you suggested, I am trying to drop the use of 'Regards' and 'Thank you' at the end of my e-mails. However, I still receive replies that carry these words. I feel so abrupt, rude and arrogant when I don't respond the same way. Oh I feel so guilty, please help! Do you think my message here is too rigid and abrupt? It looks strange with no 'Dear Mr .....' and no 'Yours sincerely' at the end." Thank you for your email together with your list of questions. I attach the visit programme and the location map. We look forward to meeting your team soon. Rafe'ah Shirley Says: Don't feel guilty. Your writing is good, but I do feel you need a 'Hello (name)' or 'Hi (name)' at the beginning. This is just for courtesy and it's also good for the recipient to see his/her name in the salutation as it's clarification that the message is to them and it is not just a cc. Your message is polite and courteous, casual too, so you do not need to say 'Thanks and Regards' at the end. These words are used just as habit by most people. I always suggest to my workshop participants that if they want to say 'Thank you' at the end they should say 'Thank you' for something, ie 'for your understanding', 'for your patience', 'for your help', 'for your co-operation', or whatever - but not just 'Thank you'. You certainly don't need 'Yours sincerely' at the end of a message - this is used on letters only and is not usually used on e-mails. Your message ended with a nice closing sentence and with your name - it's fine! Let's hope more people start dropping the 'Thanks and Regards', and even more annoying, 'Tnks & Rgs'. Ooooh, now that really does annoy me!! Thanks to Rafe'ah in Singapore for this question. It was good to meet you at my recent public workshop in Singapore, Rafe'ah. Good luck with your writing! Click here for Q&A in February about Bombastic Language »

And finally ...

TIP OF THE MONTH "If you want to be an effective communicator in today's culturally diverse workplace, you must be sensitive to cultural differences." If you would like to receive a FREE COPY of one of my books, please send your tips to me at news@shirleytaylor.com. I hope you've enjoyed this issue of Shirley Says. If you have any ideas about what you would like me to include in future issues, please write to me at news@shirleytaylor.com. PS: You may reprint this e-newsletter or forward it to your customers and colleagues. However please keep this copyright and contact information intact: Copyright Shirley Taylor 2004. Shirley Taylor is author of several popular books on effective communication and business writing. She lives in Singapore and works as an international trainer, seminar leader, professional writer and conference speaker.