context(4/0)
Quotes without context invite misunderstanding
Out-of-context quoting is a practice weaponized to deface people, but I don’t want to address that here. Instead, I will consider the practice of well-meaning Christians to publish Bible verses to a mass audience. Some Christians like to publish verses on social media, or put verses on their windows, binders, walls, etc for others to see. The intent is good–to share the words that give you life–but the consequences aren’t.…
Leadership style depends on circumstance
Leadership styles can be developed and applied based on the circumstance. There are a range of leadership styles, many of which you may have encountered. A leader who regularly made decisions based on the group’s consensus? You’ve seen a leader use the democratic style. A leader who energized you with a compelling idea of the company’s purpose and inspired you to join it? You’ve experienced a visionary style. A leader who shouted orders to you in a crisis situation, giving you clear direction when fear threatened to immobilize you?…
Communicate at the lowest cultural context
Multicultural teams must communicate in the lowest context for the cultures in that group. People in the United States tend to have the lowest communication context of any cultural cluster in the world. On the polar opposite, those in Japan communicate with the highest context ((Meyer, pg. 40)). What explains this? The history of the United States is a short story of migrants from all cultures and backgrounds trying to live together under one government.…
High context culture is sometimes direct
Some high-context cultures are direct with critical feedback. America is the lowest-context culture in the world, yet when an American gives criticism it’s often couched in praises. It should come as no surprise that other cultures with high-context communication may be dramatically direct when criticizing. Israeli culture has a higher context than most of Europe, yet when an Israeli must give negative feedback they do nothing to soften the blow. Since their regular conversation is laced with indirect meaning you may assume that criticism would also be discrete, while open, direct criticism would be shameful.…