However, income is just one indicatory of power distance within a culture. Geography Communication in Polish society is ' low context ', meaning that they usually speak frankly and can be very direct when it comes to saying 'no'. It is mostly connected with the countrys history, a long period of occupation and fighting for own identity. The top 5 percent had incomes of $191,157 or more.25. During this time, large-scale migration of the rural population to Polish cities was observed. In this section, were going to examine three important luminaries that have helped shape our understanding of culture and intercultural communication: Edward T. Hall, Geert Hofsteded, and Stella Ting-Toomey. Poland is bordered by 7 countries and the Baltic Sea. Poland has a lively music scene with the roots of the countrys music being traced as far back as the 13th century. Its a real life example from my first job in London where I was a campus recruiter and was organising an international event for students studying in the UK but wanting to work for our office in other parts of the world. Asian, African, Arab, central European and Latin American cultures are generally considered to be high-context cultures. For example, the median income for the average U.S. household is $51,100.24 When discussing household incomes, we use the median (middlemost number) because its the most accurate representation of income. Is Poland a high or low context culture? Heightened emotion is not necessarily a sign that the discussion is going badly. Most marriages were arranged and divorces were rare and looked down upon. To do that, I needed to put the relationship-approach aside and realise that whether the person was sending minutes after the meeting or not had nothing to do with trust. I didn't tell many people about me looking for a job abroad, so for some it was somewhat surprising. What is Poland culture? Although most people in the country wear modern Western outfits in their daily lives, the traditional attire is worn during cultural festivals, weddings, religious events, harvest celebrations, and other special occasions. in with awareness or stay confused. The society in Poland exhibited a high degree of stratification before 1939. Thisstatement needs to be followed by creating a set of team rules which lean towards the low-context ways of communication as well as agreed upon by all members. What is important to remember when analysing these graphs is that we cant definitely say whether a culture IS a low or high context. Imagine youre having an interaction with an individual from India. ), { "6.01:_What_is_Culture" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "6.02:_The_Function_of_Culture" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "6.03:_Cultural_Characteristics_and_Communication" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "6.04:_Improving_Intercultural_Communication_Skills" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "6.05:_Chapter_Wrap-Up" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()" }, { "00:_Front_Matter" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "01:_Introduction_to_Human_Communication" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "02:_Overview_of_Interpersonal_Communication" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "03:_Intrapersonal_Communication" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "04:_Verbal_Elements_of_Communication" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "05:_Nonverbal_Communication" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "06:_Cultural_and_Environmental_Factors_in_Interpersonal_Communication" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "07:_Talking_and_Listening" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "08:_Building_and_Maintaining_Relationships" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "09:_Conflict_in_Relationships" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "10:_Friendship_Relationships" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "11:_Family_and_Marriage_Relationships" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "12:_Interpersonal_Communication_in_Mediated_Contexts" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "13:_Interpersonal_Relationships_at_Work" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "14:_The_Dark_Side_of_Interpersonal_Communication" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()", "zz:_Back_Matter" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.b__1]()" }, 6.3: Cultural Characteristics and Communication, [ "article:topic", "license:ccbyncsa", "showtoc:no", "authorname:wrenchetal", "program:opsuny", "program:opensuny", "licenseversion:40", "source@https://milnepublishing.geneseo.edu/interpersonalcommunication" ], https://socialsci.libretexts.org/@app/auth/3/login?returnto=https%3A%2F%2Fsocialsci.libretexts.org%2FBookshelves%2FCommunication%2FInterpersonal_Communication%2FBook%253A_Interpersonal_Communication_-_A_Mindful_Approach_to_Relationships_(Wrench_et_al. yes it is a high context culture! Others are who gets educated and what type of education they receive, who gets health care and what type, and what types of occupations do those with power have versus those who do not have power. In an individualistic culture, there is a belief that you can do what you want and follow your passions. I left the meeting happy with all the information thatI received and ready to start working on my tasks. In essence, in LCC, meaning is expressed through explicit verbal messages, both written and oral. Messages are often implied but not plainly expressed.. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Differentiate between Edward T. Halls low-context and highcontext cultures. According to a 2013 report from the U.S. Census department (using income data from 2012), here is how income inequality in the U.S. looks: Households in the lowest quintile had incomes of $20,599 or less in 2012. A variety of other sports like basketball, hockey, swimming, weightlifting, boxing, etc., are played in the country. Site Name: UK - London - Brentford, Warsaw Posted Date: Mar 2 2023 HR Business Partner Poland and Austria & HR Country Head Austria Job purpose: HR Business Partner Poland and Austria & HR Country Head Austria will partner with the commercial business to adapt and effectively execute the people plan, leveraging their local context and expertise, to ensure the effective deployment of the GSK HR . To give you an example, in comparison to Asian countries such as Japan, China or Indonesia both UK and Poland could be described as rather a low-context culture. Try to make initial introductions through a local representative rather than on your own. Customers with long standing are given priority over new customers. An effigy of Marzanna is drowned in the river to signify the end of the ills of the winter season. The Polish also love playing volleyball and the country has a history of participation in several international competitions of this game. Pickles and sauerkraut are popular side dishes and dessert options will often include ice cream, cheesecake, apple pie and "makowiec", a poppy-seed cake. One of the earliest researchers in the area of cultural differences and their importance to communication was a researcher by the name of Edward T. Hall. If yes - start developing your cultural intelligence! Meyer defines them as follows: Low-context: Good communication is precise, simple and clear. Finally, individuals from indulgent cultures tend to be more extraverted and outgoing as a whole, whereas individuals from restrained cultures tend to be more neurotic. Wojewdztwo pomorskie - wojewdztwo znajdujce si w pnocnej czci kraju. Exchanging business cards is an important business ritual. His book Beyond Culture is still considered one of the most influential books for the field of intercultural communication.17,18 According to Hall, all cultures incorporate both verbal and nonverbal elements into communication. Geert Hofstedes research created a taxonomy for understanding and differentiating cultures. As such, there is a focus on both persistence and thrift. It was simply a reflection of the need for being 100% clear in the message and avoiding any misunderstandings. Asia, the Polish name, is spelled the same as the continent but pronounced very differently! I heard opinions that its weird, stupid, not-funny-at-all, thats also a widely heldstereotype about that culture. In the most recent version of her theory, Stella Ting-Toomey outlines seven basic factors of face-negotiation theory: First and foremost, communication and face are highly intertwined concepts, so when coming to an intercultural encounter, it is important to remember the interrelationship between the two. Collectivistic cultures tend to think about actions that might affect the entire group rather than specific members of the group. In the past, men and women who crossed their marriageable age (twenty for women and late 20s for men) were subjected to mockery. 7. The earliest literature produced in the country was in Latin. Messages may seem direct because Poles believe people should be free to express opinions. A number of poets and authors produced works that focussed on patriotism and the revival of the country. The cultural variability dimensions, in conjunction with individual, relational, and situational factors influence the use of particular facework behaviors in particular cultural scenes. Poland is also one of the largest beer producers in Europe and a beer consumer in Poland drinks 92 liters of beer annually. When realising the way the British work, I managed to easily adjust to their style. Younger managers are beginning to adopt a less hierarchical, more results-driven manner of managing teams. But they pay attention to the volume of their voices and tend to speak quietly in business and in public. Notice that the U.S. does not make it into the top five or the bottom five. 29. Don't hesitate to ask clarifying questions if the intent is not clear or the message sounds confusing. When it comes to power distances, these differences often manifest themselves in many ways within a singular culture: class, education, occupations, and health care. DM me with 'GLOBAL LEADER' and I'll share with you how I support international leaders in their ability to work well across cultures. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The Renaissance period also witnessed the production of great literary works by the Polish authors and poets. Being on time is important. When it came to trait affection received, all four groups differed from one another. When it came to trait affection given, the United States participants reported giving more affection than any of the three other countries. Households in the second quintile had incomes between $20,600 and $39,764, those in the third quintile had incomes between $39,765 and $64,582, and those in the fourth quintile had incomes between $64,583 and $104,096. Messages are both spoken and read between the lines. A high-context culture is one in which contextual cues are the primary and dominating method of transmitting communication rules. Poles are also used to less personal space in public, and they offer help to one another on trams, busses and in other public locations. These are some important high-context culture characteristics to look out for. Furthermore, there tend to be higher levels of prejudice and higher levels of ideological, political, and religious fundamentalism, which does not allow for any kind of debate. Lace-up boots and a coral bead necklace complete the look. The top five most masculine countries are Slovakia, Japan, Hungary, Austria, and Venezuela (the U.S. is number 19 out of 76); whereas, feminine countries are represented by Sweden, Norway, Latvia, Netherlands, and Denmark. In the Krakw region of Lesser Poland, women wear elaborate traditional dresses that comprise of a white blouse, an embroidered vest, an apron, and a full floral skirt. DM me the word 'CULTURE' and I'll come back with the details of how to get started. When Poles are comfortable with you and you are part of their private circle, communication can be more outspoken, direct and even cynical. Modern Polish art was associated with heavy experimentation and was born with the Moda Polska movement. When we look at only the two however, it turns out that even though UK and Poland are so close to each other on the scale, you can still feel the difference in the communication style. Particularism Conversely, low-context Professional titles are used. Can be very slow. In these cultures, there tends to be high respect for the past and the various traditions that have made that culture great. Hofstede refers to this as being more relationally oriented. Our Privacy Policy can be found. Wincenty Kadubek, Gallus Anonymus, and Jan Dugosz were some of the famous Middle Age Polish authors. But making decisions may take longer than in some fixed time cultures because of the emphasis on maintaining relationships and building consensus. High-context cultures will use communication that focuses on underlying context, meaning, and tone in the message, and not just the words themselves. The St. Stephan's Day is celebrated the next day. Recruiting is done through executive search firms and through the internet. If something was not clear, the team was asking clarifying questions easily. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. What does that mean? Japan is the most high-context society due to long shared history, followed by Korea, China and Indonesia. Face is the standing or position a person has in the eyes of others. It can be served hot or cold. Most Asian countries are considered collectivistic cultures because these cultures tend to be group-focused. Compare and contrast two countries and their levels of context. President Nixon did the same thing existing an airplane in Brazil flashing his famous OK sign with his thumb and forefinger forming a circle, but this is the middle finger in that culture. #expatcoaching #expatlife #livingabroad #expatcoach #workingabroad #lifeabroad #workabroad #careerabroad #internationallife #internationalcareer #globalcareer #globallife #globalleaders #culturalawareness #selfawareness #selfgrowth #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #culturalcompetence #movingabroad #zyciezagranica #zycienaemigracji #pracazagranica #rozwojosobisty #polacyzagranica, Which one - peach or coconut - do you feel closer to yourself? Employees are often looking for direction and may not be comfortable taking personal initiative. For example, an invitation to a party would be addressed to Mr. Poles gesticulate a great deal while speaking to make their point. But respect for hierarchy of seniority and position is practiced. Privacy Policy. High-context cultures are more likely to be intuitive, contemplative, and concerned with the collective. It includes a broad literature review that describes management styles in Poland and draws some comparisons to other countries. With time after the move, some innocent guilt-tripping began too. Shaking hands is the most common business greeting. Generally there is low tolerance for ambiguity and people require detailed explanation and understanding before making decisions. Designed and Developed by LLT Group. #expatcoaching #expatlife #livingabroad #expatcoach #workingabroad #lifeabroad #workabroad #careerabroad #internationallife #internationalcareer #globalcareer #globallife #globalleaders #culturalawareness #selfawareness #selfgrowth #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #culturalcompetence #movingabroad #zyciezagranica #zycienaemigracji #pracazagranica #rozwojosobisty #polacyzagranica, Book your CQ assessment and debrief session today! According to Hsien Chin Hu, the concept of face stems from two distinct Chinese words, lien and mien-tzu. D.I.V.E. Meetings are formal. The ruling class or nomenclatura that held the ruling power during the Communist rule in Poland is striving to regain power in the country. Always, and I hate travelling that often and being tired Is it worth it for these relationships? Lets briefly look at each of these. In other words, we think about ourselves as individuals rather than the collective group. The province also promotes the offer of "healthy" tourism. Pomeranian Voivodeship - a voivodeship located in the northern part of Poland. More simplistically, face is essentially a persons reputation and feelings of prestige within multiple spheres, including the workplace, the family, personal friends, and society at large.49 For our purposes, we can generally break face down into general categories: face gaining and face losing. The Catholic Church is core to everyday life. Legal. A high-context culture relies on implicit communication and nonverbal cues. We cannot escape it; however, some people are more prone to becoming fearful in situations that are ambiguous or unknown. We also acknowledge previous National Science Foundation support under grant numbers 1246120, 1525057, and 1413739. When it comes to external business communication however, my experience is that the British are closer to the low-context end of the scale. Yes. "The Culture Map Persuading. My first thought was not Oh cool, good to have that in writing, but Why did she bother sending that to us? In addition to the previous characteristics, Hofstede noticed a fifth characteristic of cultures that he deemed long-term and short-term orientation. Currently, Polish art is enjoyed and recognized worldwide. In 1924, the novel Chopi won Wadysaw Reymont a Nobel Prize in Literature. Over the years, Hofstede and his fellow researchers have regularly collected additional data from around the world to make his conceptualization of six cultural differences one of the most widely studied concepts of culture. To determine power differences within a culture, Hofstede originally was able to examine cultural value survey data that had been collected by IBM. Finally, the researchers examined affection given and received with regards to Hofstedes work. Let's chat! Negotiations with new customers are going to be tougher and longer until a relationship is established. Today, many companies have goal-setting, 360 feedback, and training programs. there. 33 The sixth cultural characteristic is called indulgence vs. restraint, which examines issues of happiness and wellbeing. As such, women are placed in a subservient position to their husbands are often identified socially by their husbands. In fact, within the latest edition of the book examining these characteristics, Hofstede and his colleagues title the chapter on uncertainty avoidance as What is Different is Dangerous, calling out the threat factor people in high uncertainty avoidance cultures feel.31 Cultures at the high end of uncertainty avoidance include Greece, Portugal, Guatemala, Uruguay, and Belgium Flemish; whereas, cultures at the low end of uncertainty avoidance include Singapore, Jamaica, Denmark, Sweden, and Hong Kong.