Cross cultural communication | Pellegrino Riccardi | TEDxBergen

TEDx Talks
21 Oct 201419:57
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe speaker, Pellegrino, a man of Italian, British, and Norwegian heritage, humorously explores the intricacies of cross-cultural communication. He emphasizes the importance of self-perception and curiosity when navigating cultural differences, using personal anecdotes to illustrate the unique behaviors and values of each culture. Pellegrino encourages embracing the best aspects of diverse cultures to foster a global mindset, which he believes propels the world forward.

Takeaways
  • 😀 The speaker, Pellegrino, with an Italian background, humorously discusses his life as a 'pilgrim', traveling the world to help people communicate better in a global business context.
  • 🌐 Pellegrino emphasizes the importance of self-perception in cross-cultural communication, advising people to 'take a look at yourself' rather than only focusing on other cultures.
  • 🎭 He uses personal anecdotes, such as his English accent surprising people, to illustrate how perception can differ from expectation based on cultural stereotypes.
  • 📚 Pellegrino defines culture as 'a system of behavior that helps us act in an accepted or familiar way', highlighting the role of social norms and familiarity.
  • 🇳🇴 He explains Norwegian behavior to other nationalities, using humor to challenge stereotypes and to show that sometimes perceptions can be misguided.
  • 🏞 The speaker uses the example of the Norwegian forest to point out differences in what is considered 'accepted and familiar' in different cultures.
  • 📏 Pellegrino contrasts queueing behaviors in the UK and Norway to demonstrate how cultural norms can significantly differ even in seemingly simple activities.
  • 👥 He discusses the concept of equality in Norway, suggesting that the 'first come, first served' mentality in queues reflects a broader societal value.
  • 🌳 The speaker highlights the importance of curiosity when navigating cultural differences, using personal experiences to show how it can lead to understanding and positive interactions.
  • 🗣️ Pellegrino talks about the economy of language in Nordic cultures, where brevity in communication is valued, contrasting it with other cultures that use more words.
  • 🅰️ He concludes by advocating for a global mindset, which involves taking the best aspects of different cultures and merging them to create a new, inclusive perspective.
Q & A

  • What is the main occupation of the speaker in the script?

    -The speaker's main occupation is helping people communicate better, especially in the global business world, by assisting them in understanding and communicating with different nationalities.

  • What does the speaker suggest when it comes to cross-cultural communication?

    -The speaker suggests taking a look at oneself rather than just focusing on other cultures when it comes to cross-cultural communication.

  • What is the speaker's approach to testing people's perception of him?

    -The speaker tests people's perception of him by conducting social experiments, such as speaking with different accents to airlines staff to see the reactions he gets.

  • What does the speaker consider as a key challenge when working with other nationalities?

    -One of the key challenges is that people often see what they want to see and not what others see, which can lead to misunderstandings in cross-cultural interactions.

  • How does the speaker define culture in the script?

    -The speaker defines culture as 'a system of behavior that helps us act in an accepted or familiar way'.

  • What is the surprising revelation about the text describing a 'typical Norwegian'?

    -The surprising revelation is that the text describing a 'typical Norwegian' is actually a description of a Hollywood film star, not an actual Norwegian.

  • What does the speaker highlight as an important aspect of Norwegian life?

    -The speaker highlights the Norwegian forest as an important aspect of Norwegian life, which is seen as a source of fresh air and nature.

  • Why does the speaker believe that understanding underlying values is crucial in cross-border communication?

    -Understanding underlying values is crucial because it helps in knowing how to communicate effectively with people from different cultures and backgrounds.

  • What is the speaker's view on the importance of curiosity in cross-cultural communication?

    -The speaker believes that curiosity is essential in cross-cultural communication as it allows individuals to ask questions and learn about different cultures without judgment.

  • How does the speaker describe the concept of 'economy of language' in the context of Nordic cultures?

    -The speaker describes 'economy of language' as using the minimum number of words to convey the maximum message, which is a characteristic of Nordic cultures.

  • What is the speaker's advice for dealing with misperceptions in cross-cultural interactions?

    -The speaker advises looking beyond the negative side and using curiosity to understand the different behaviors and customs of other cultures.

  • How does the speaker describe the difference in queuing behavior between the UK and Norway?

    -In the UK, people maintain their order even when new cash registers open, while in Norway, it's a free-for-all, first come first served approach, reflecting a cultural value of equality.

  • What does the speaker suggest is the key to developing a global mindset?

    -The speaker suggests that the key to developing a global mindset is to take the best aspects of different cultures and merge them into a new culture, thus extending and creating new cultural borders.

Outlines
00:00
🌐 Embracing Multicultural Identity and Communication

The speaker, Pellegrino, introduces himself as a 'pilgrim' with an Italian background and a strong connection to Norway. He works in global business communication, emphasizing the importance of self-perception in cross-cultural interactions. Pellegrino humorously illustrates how his English accent defies expectations based on his Italian heritage. He discusses the challenge of perception in different cultures, using his experiences with airlines to highlight how people react based on stereotypes. He introduces the concept of culture as a system of behavior that is accepted and familiar within a social group, using a humorous anecdote about a Hollywood star being mistaken for a typical Norwegian to emphasize the point that perceptions can be misleading.

05:02
🏞 Cultural Perceptions and the Importance of Curiosity

Pellegrino explores the theme of cultural familiarity and acceptance through the lens of his personal experiences and observations. He recounts a humorous incident involving his Italian father's visit to Norway, highlighting the stark differences in cultural norms and expectations. The speaker uses the queueing habits in the UK and Norway to illustrate the concept of equality and the free-for-all approach in Norway, which he suggests stems from the country's values. He emphasizes the value of curiosity in overcoming cultural barriers and understanding different perspectives, using his children's inquisitiveness as an example of the power of curiosity in communication.

10:02
🗣️ Language Economy and the Challenge of Cross-Cultural Communication

In this paragraph, Pellegrino delves into the nuances of language and communication across cultures, focusing on the economic use of language in Nordic cultures compared to the more verbose communication styles of Italians and Brits. He shares amusing anecdotes about attempts at small talk with a Finn and the challenges of engaging in conversation within different cultural contexts. The speaker highlights the importance of understanding and respecting these differences to foster effective cross-cultural communication, advocating for curiosity as a tool to navigate and appreciate the diversity in communication styles.

15:03
🅿️ Rules, Flexibility, and the Quest for a Global Mindset

Pellegrino concludes his talk by discussing the importance of rules and the different attitudes towards them across cultures, using a personal parking incident in Norway to illustrate the strict adherence to rules in Norwegian society. He contrasts this with the more flexible approach he encountered in Italy, where persuasion and personal connections can influence outcomes. The speaker reflects on his own multicultural identity and the value of integrating the best aspects of different cultures to create a global mindset. He encourages embracing and learning from cultural differences to expand one's perspective and contribute to a more connected world.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Perception
Perception refers to the process of interpreting and organizing sensory information to give meaning to the environment. In the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding perception in cross-cultural communication, suggesting that people often see what they expect to see rather than what is actually presented to them. For example, the speaker's English accent surprises people who expect an Italian accent based on his name, highlighting the gap between perception and reality.
💡Cross-cultural communication
Cross-cultural communication is the exchange of information between individuals from different cultural backgrounds. The video's theme revolves around improving this type of communication. The speaker uses his own experiences with different cultures to illustrate the challenges and misunderstandings that can arise, such as the different reactions he receives from airline staff depending on the accent he uses.
💡Stereotype
A stereotype is a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing. The video discusses stereotypes as a part of cultural perception, showing how they can be both limiting and sometimes reflective of certain cultural traits. The speaker humorously uses a description of a Hollywood film star, which is mistaken for a Norwegian, to demonstrate how stereotypes can shape our understanding of others.
💡Equality
Equality is the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities. The speaker relates this concept to Norwegian culture, suggesting that the behavior he observes, such as the queueing system, is influenced by a value for equality. This is exemplified by the story of the King of Norway on a train, symbolizing the country's commitment to egalitarianism.
💡Curiosity
Curiosity is the desire to learn or know more about something or someone. The speaker advocates for curiosity as a tool for navigating cultural differences. He believes that being curious allows one to ask questions and learn from others, which is essential for effective cross-cultural communication. His personal anecdotes, such as the interaction with the Finnish man, underscore the importance of maintaining an inquisitive mindset.
💡Global mindset
A global mindset refers to a way of thinking that is open to and aware of different cultural perspectives. The speaker concludes the video by discussing his goal of creating a global mindset by integrating the best aspects of the cultures he has experienced. This concept is central to the video's message about embracing and learning from cultural diversity.
💡Communication
Communication is the process of sharing information, ideas, or feelings. The speaker's profession involves helping people communicate more effectively, particularly in a global business context. Throughout the video, he provides insights into how cultural differences can impact communication and offers strategies for overcoming these challenges.
💡Assumption
An assumption is something that is accepted as true without proof. The video highlights the dangers of making assumptions in cross-cultural interactions. The speaker uses the example of his wife's assumption about Italians' habits of walking in the forest, which led to a humorous misunderstanding due to cultural differences.
💡Economy of language
Economy of language refers to the use of a minimal number of words to convey a message effectively. The speaker contrasts this with more verbose communication styles, such as those in Italy and the UK, using the example of how Norwegians can express apologies or questions with a single word, like 'Hæ?', to illustrate the cultural preference for conciseness.
💡Rules
Rules are principles or regulations that dictate behavior. The speaker discusses the importance of understanding and following rules in different cultures, drawing from his own experiences with parking regulations in Norway and Italy. His anecdotes highlight the cultural variations in attitudes towards rules and the consequences of not adhering to them.
💡Misperception
Misperception is the act of understanding something incorrectly or being given the wrong impression. The speaker talks about how cultural differences can lead to misperceptions, such as the reaction to the Norwegian word 'Hæ?' by non-Norwegians. He encourages the audience to look beyond these misperceptions and to be curious about the underlying cultural reasons.
Highlights

Speaker's name Pellegrino, meaning 'pilgrim', reflects his extensive travel.

Pellegrino's work focuses on improving global business communication.

He emphasizes self-perception in cross-cultural communication.

Pellegrino plays with accents to test perceptions, highlighting the importance of English for service.

Cultural differences can lead to misperceptions in communication.

Pellegrino's definition of culture as a system of accepted and familiar behaviors.

The humorous revelation that a stereotypical Norwegian description actually pertains to a Hollywood star.

The challenge of working across borders involves understanding different assumptions.

The story of the Italian father's confusion with the Norwegian forest, illustrating cultural differences.

Differences in queuing behaviors between the UK and Norway reflect underlying cultural values.

Pellegrino's personal experience with Norwegian equality and its impact on social norms.

The importance of curiosity in navigating and understanding cultural differences.

Cultural economy of language, with examples from Italian, British, and Nordic communication styles.

The humorous anecdote of Pellegrino's parking ticket and the Norwegian adherence to rules.

A comparison of traffic behaviors in Italy, France, and Norway, highlighting cultural attitudes towards rules.

Pellegrino's personal approach to merging the best aspects of different cultures to create a global mindset.

The conclusion that a global mindset involves extending and creating new cultural borders.

Transcripts

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Related Tags
Cultural PerceptionCommunication SkillsGlobal BusinessPersonal NarrativeItalian RootsNorwegian LifeBritish InfluenceCross-Cultural ChallengesSocial ExperimentsLanguage Impact