2025 Business Communication for Global Careers

A professional global citizen has:

• Multiple language skills

• Strong digital presence

• Hard skills

• A combination of social intelligence and professional skills, along with hard and soft skills

Intercultural business communication is NOT always needed for:

• Global market expansion

• Global cultural diversity

• Professionalism

• Local department meetings

Career Assessments don’t help you

• Have better self-awareness

• Have language on what you are naturally good at doing

• Gain more networking skills

• Find what your tendencies are

Who created the CliftonStrengths self-assessment?

• Elon Musk

• Gallup

• Estee Lauder

• Warren Buffet

Who is Dr. Martin Seligman?

• A philosopher

• A businessman

• A psychologist

• A behavioral scientist

When “small talking” with an individual I just met, among easy topics to choose to chat about:

• a controversial new policy made by my country’s highest court

• The local football (soccer) team

• My colleague’s salary raise

• My company’s decision not to give more PTO (paid time off)

When going to an interview in a corporate setting, professionalism is:

• Appearing neat and wearing business X (casual, formal, smart)

• Sitting back and looking at ease

• Having a poker face

• Asking about salary and benefits

Active listening is NOT:

• Asking good questions (who, what, how come)

• Mentioning a summary of points discussed at the end of a meeting

• Folding your arms and waiting for an answer

• Nodding

Low-context cultures:

• Speak indirectly

• Value collectivism

• Comfortable with silence

• Values the individual critical thought

High-context cultures:

• Place less value on official contracts and negotiations

• Value words and context

• Enjoy lively conversations of small talk

• Value the individual and critical thought