Respect and accommodation are key when negotiating with Iranians. First, setting is of high-importance, a lavish meeting room, with coffee and tea in abundance would first communicate a respect and a genuine concern for the diplomats well being. These types of amenities would be offered to any diplomat in Iran, so showing great hospitality would ease the tensions of the negotiations.
Secondly, make sure not to launch directly into negotiations and business. Iran’s would enjoy some personal context, so make genuine small talk. Though Iran is a very modern country, it is a still considered polychromic in many aspects, so practice patience in your negotiations. There might be many asides and digressions, but ultimately there will be substantial discourse.
Finally, do not use high-pressure tactics. Power leverage might make a Western business man fold, the Persian people will not stand for such an insult. Negotiate on an equal plain, respectfully, and more progress will be made.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Blissfully Polychronic
Before matriculating into the American University to study international relations and foreign affairs, I was going to be an artist. I was sure of it. I was the president of both the poetry and art clubs in my high school, and spent most of my time outside of the classroom recording music by myself or with my friends. How I ended up an International Relations major is another story altogether, but my frustrations with polychronic and monochronic time, in retrospect, probably played a large role in this transition.
"Art can't handle deadlines!" is something my senior art adviser would hear me say constantly when I would show up empty handed for class. Though an easy excuse for a lazy painter, I still believe it to be true. When I was creating more art and music, my life was blissfully polychronic, and what motivated my work was not a looming deadline, but pure muse. I gritted my teeth less, and slept much better during this time. However, as my school urged me to expedite my creative process in order to make application deadlines for various collegiate fine arts programs, I found myself questions my passion for it more and more. They were bending me into monochronic rigidity, and it disturbed me.
I did end up getting together a portfolio, and was accepted to some of the most prestigious fine arts programs in the country, but I knew from the process that making art my career was not a wise decision. Though I miss being able to paint as much, I do not resent or hate art, and believe that giving my creativity a deadline would have just made me loathe it.
Although I do grit my teeth, wrinkle my forehead, and get much less sleep than is healthy or normal, the study of International Relations--for all its miserable monochronic-ness--has become a new passion. Although I find myself slipping into a former polychronic self and scribbling away a night that would be much better spent studying, or blogging, I am perfectly happy in that moment. That was the trade-off, and I am glad it worked out.
"Art can't handle deadlines!" is something my senior art adviser would hear me say constantly when I would show up empty handed for class. Though an easy excuse for a lazy painter, I still believe it to be true. When I was creating more art and music, my life was blissfully polychronic, and what motivated my work was not a looming deadline, but pure muse. I gritted my teeth less, and slept much better during this time. However, as my school urged me to expedite my creative process in order to make application deadlines for various collegiate fine arts programs, I found myself questions my passion for it more and more. They were bending me into monochronic rigidity, and it disturbed me.
I did end up getting together a portfolio, and was accepted to some of the most prestigious fine arts programs in the country, but I knew from the process that making art my career was not a wise decision. Though I miss being able to paint as much, I do not resent or hate art, and believe that giving my creativity a deadline would have just made me loathe it.
Although I do grit my teeth, wrinkle my forehead, and get much less sleep than is healthy or normal, the study of International Relations--for all its miserable monochronic-ness--has become a new passion. Although I find myself slipping into a former polychronic self and scribbling away a night that would be much better spent studying, or blogging, I am perfectly happy in that moment. That was the trade-off, and I am glad it worked out.
Analysis Question #2: Some Advice for American Diplomats
Although I don’t know the specifics of Iranian culture, I can advise the State Department on general techniques for communicating with the Iranians. The most important thing is to know that communication is deeply connected to culture, whether it be regional, ethnic, religious, etc. Any diplomat who is going to meet with the Iranians should be well informed about Iranian history and culture, and of course have a mastery of the language, not just in vocabulary and grammar, but in idioms and other nuances of the language that don’t translate exactly.
Nonverbal codes are also just as important as actually speaking their language. The diplomats should find out if Iran is a contact or noncontact culture, which will dictate how the diplomats should approach and greet the Iranians. If they are a noncontact culture, for example, the U.S. diplomats should be sure not too stand too close when speaking and not to touch the other person. The diplomats should also be aware of how Iranians feel about eye contact and act accordingly. It is possible that the Americans may have to avoid most eye contact to show the Iranians respect. Also, the diplomats must be cautious with their gestures, because many gestures are not universal, and something as simple as a “thumbs up” could be something different (and possibly even offensive) in the Iranian culture. One thing they should be able to rely on is the use of universal facial expressions that show happiness, fear, disgust, etc. Since these expressions are almost always universal, diplomats should be able to trust their instincts when reading these expressions. Finally, the diplomats should be aware of whether Iran generally uses monochronic or polychronic time. If the Iranians use polychronic time, the Americans should not count on the Iranians to be on time or keep appointments and they should be flexible if meetings need to be rescheduled. For the American diplomats it is most important that they are always aware that verbal and nonverbal language is not universal language and they must be careful and respectful when talking to the Iranian representatives.
Incompatibility of Monochronic and Polychronic Time
I found Hall’s discussion of polychronic and monochronic time and its effects on bureaucracies to be the most interesting part of this particular piece because of its economic and political ramifications. As a student of international relations, I am constantly concerned with issues dealing with development, governance, etc. While I had always been aware of how cultural differences affected a state’s ability to adapt to capitalistic and democratic norms, I was unaware of these differences in how time was perceived. As Hell mentions, these differences in time perception affect (at least) how bureaucracies deal with constituent concerns, how centralized bureaucracies are, and how employees within the bureaucracy see the ‘bigger picture’ behind their work. Although Hall also talks about how these differences are not ‘good’ or ‘bad’ in terms of efficiency and governance, he does admit that monochronic time and polychronic time are incompatible. Given that the current international political and economic structure is dominated by ideas that were largely spread by monochronic cultures, one might be able to begin to see why some states or particular cultures have had trouble adapting.
Hall, included in his discussion of how polychronic and monochronic time do not mix, also talks about how foreigners have trouble dealing with these differences in time perception. While he provides his own personal anecdote in which he is thrust into the fast-paced and jam-packed schedule in Japan, I have been fortunate enough to have experienced the effects of living in a polychronic culture. One winter break I had the wonderful opportunity of staying with a family friend in Kuwait. Upon arrival into the country, I had to show that I had indeed been invited by someone within the country, so that I could make my way past the airport. Luckily enough for me, this family friend had some connections within the airport so despite the fact that she had lost her passport and visa a week earlier, I was able to accompany her out of the airport in a relatively timely manner. I was unaware of how lucky I was until after we had gotten into the car and she told me some of the horror stories of other people who had been stranded at the airport for days while waiting for approval to enter the country. It turns out that because of her close relationship to some one within the bureaucracy, my approval was streamlined. In this way, Kuwait’s polychronic culture actually worked in my favor.
My luck ran out after this incident, however, as my friend later informed me that our planned trip across parts of the Middle East had to be cancelled. When I pressed her for the reason why, she told me that she was still waiting for the American Embassy to issue her a new passport, which in turn was holding up her ability to get a new Kuwaiti visa. Without these two documents, neither of us would be able to legally re-enter the country. American monochronic culture had left us at the mercy of some pre-determined schedule in which my friend would have to wait for the embassy to process her request. At the time I was unaware of how different cultures perceived time. Now, however, the ease that I got into the country and the difficulty that my friend had dealing with the U.S. embassy makes much more sense to me after reading Hall’s article.
Hall, included in his discussion of how polychronic and monochronic time do not mix, also talks about how foreigners have trouble dealing with these differences in time perception. While he provides his own personal anecdote in which he is thrust into the fast-paced and jam-packed schedule in Japan, I have been fortunate enough to have experienced the effects of living in a polychronic culture. One winter break I had the wonderful opportunity of staying with a family friend in Kuwait. Upon arrival into the country, I had to show that I had indeed been invited by someone within the country, so that I could make my way past the airport. Luckily enough for me, this family friend had some connections within the airport so despite the fact that she had lost her passport and visa a week earlier, I was able to accompany her out of the airport in a relatively timely manner. I was unaware of how lucky I was until after we had gotten into the car and she told me some of the horror stories of other people who had been stranded at the airport for days while waiting for approval to enter the country. It turns out that because of her close relationship to some one within the bureaucracy, my approval was streamlined. In this way, Kuwait’s polychronic culture actually worked in my favor.
My luck ran out after this incident, however, as my friend later informed me that our planned trip across parts of the Middle East had to be cancelled. When I pressed her for the reason why, she told me that she was still waiting for the American Embassy to issue her a new passport, which in turn was holding up her ability to get a new Kuwaiti visa. Without these two documents, neither of us would be able to legally re-enter the country. American monochronic culture had left us at the mercy of some pre-determined schedule in which my friend would have to wait for the embassy to process her request. At the time I was unaware of how different cultures perceived time. Now, however, the ease that I got into the country and the difficulty that my friend had dealing with the U.S. embassy makes much more sense to me after reading Hall’s article.
Using Non-Verbal Communication
Non-verbal communication is perhaps one of the most important forms of communication that is necessary to understand. It requires more interpretation than verbal communication, and sometimes expresses thing that we do not or cannot outwardly express. Non-verbal communication also is perceived and used differently in different parts of the world. For instance, someone used the example that while in the Middle East, an American female student waved her hand to a male teacher. In America, a hand wave is used as a greeting, but in the Middle East, a hand wave is a beckoning gesture that the American student did not intend to imply.
Personally, I am a very quiet and reserved person. I could just have received a thousand dollars in a sweepstakes or I could have just gotten a really terrible haircut, and act the same way in either case. I’d generally say how I feel, but would not express physical emotion. I also tend to have a “pissed-off” look on my face, as I am told. I’m usually not pissed off, I guess that is just the way my face looks. However, to other people, it looks like I am angry about something even when I am not. I have to be aware of how other people perceive my non-verbal communication. However, my non-verbal communication seems to leak out when I am frustrated. I work at a restaurant, and sometimes the customers can be really difficult and ignorant. Usually I am very pleasant to the customers, but for some reason when I would go to seat them at a table and they would complain that they would like to move to another table in another server’s section, I had a really hard time hiding my frustration. I know that by the look on my face and my use of silence, they knew that they were being difficult.
It is important to always be aware of how we are being perceived by the people around us. Depending on what part of the world you are from, different gestures can be deemed unacceptable or vice versa. By using facial expressions or inserting silence into a conversation, we can imply things that are meant to be perceived without actually having to say the words. However, this can also have a negative effect and could cause some trouble.
Personally, I am a very quiet and reserved person. I could just have received a thousand dollars in a sweepstakes or I could have just gotten a really terrible haircut, and act the same way in either case. I’d generally say how I feel, but would not express physical emotion. I also tend to have a “pissed-off” look on my face, as I am told. I’m usually not pissed off, I guess that is just the way my face looks. However, to other people, it looks like I am angry about something even when I am not. I have to be aware of how other people perceive my non-verbal communication. However, my non-verbal communication seems to leak out when I am frustrated. I work at a restaurant, and sometimes the customers can be really difficult and ignorant. Usually I am very pleasant to the customers, but for some reason when I would go to seat them at a table and they would complain that they would like to move to another table in another server’s section, I had a really hard time hiding my frustration. I know that by the look on my face and my use of silence, they knew that they were being difficult.
It is important to always be aware of how we are being perceived by the people around us. Depending on what part of the world you are from, different gestures can be deemed unacceptable or vice versa. By using facial expressions or inserting silence into a conversation, we can imply things that are meant to be perceived without actually having to say the words. However, this can also have a negative effect and could cause some trouble.
Monday, October 5, 2009
The Importance of Understanding Nonverbal Communication
I believe nonverbal communication is very important in expressing yourself and is as important as verbal communication. I thought the class activity was both interesting and funny. No one could tell their story without nonverbal cues. I felt their stories were much more effective with nonverbal communication because these behaviors reinforce their ideas. Therefore, nonverbal communication is important for general communication and getting you ideas and thoughts through to people.
Different societies have different ways of nonverbal communication. Like we discussed in class, cultures have various ways of communicating and expressing themselves. As a result, it is important to understand the ways of a differing culture when you know you're going to interact with them because it could lead to misunderstandings. For example, the kissing when greeting like mentioned in class, or the wave by Judith in the textbook, can cause awkward situations which could have been avoided.
I also think that when you spend a significant amount of time in a certain country or with certain people you will start to adopt their behavior and nonverbal cues. For example, I have been studying in the US for two years and there are certain actions or manners that I was not comfortable with but have become accustom to with time.
Different societies have different ways of nonverbal communication. Like we discussed in class, cultures have various ways of communicating and expressing themselves. As a result, it is important to understand the ways of a differing culture when you know you're going to interact with them because it could lead to misunderstandings. For example, the kissing when greeting like mentioned in class, or the wave by Judith in the textbook, can cause awkward situations which could have been avoided.
I also think that when you spend a significant amount of time in a certain country or with certain people you will start to adopt their behavior and nonverbal cues. For example, I have been studying in the US for two years and there are certain actions or manners that I was not comfortable with but have become accustom to with time.
The World of Time Is Not So Black and White
When thinking about monochronic and polychronic time I don’t think the two concepts are as black and white as Hall makes them seem. Many people would say that the US is ruled by monochronic time, but I think it is impossible to pin down the US as being one or the other because both of these concepts of time are used often. Monochronic time is certainly dominant in the business world because we put a value on time and thus have to have every moment of time scheduled so that we don’t waste any. On the other hand, many Americans are polychronic (according to Hall’s definition) because they often do many things at once. A businessman may be in a meeting while simultaneously writing a report and checking his stocks online. Outside of the business world many Americans operate in polychronic time, having idea of things they want to get done, but not necessarily having a specific time or order in which they must do them.
Another interesting point that Hall makes is the monochronic time is considered masculine and polychronic time is considered feminine. I think in many ways this is an unfair oversimplification. Monochronic time may be associated with males because they dominate the business world, but in reality everyone uses both monochronic and polychronic time. For example, I am a female, but because I am a student I feel that a lot of my time is run by monochronic time. I often become obsessive about budgeting my time and I frequently make order lists of things I have to do and when I will do them so that I know I will have time for everything. On the other hand, I also incorporate polychronic time into my life because I usually will put my family or friends before a task. If I had some kind of serious family problem I would certainly attend to that before worrying about missing a class or not doing an assignment. All in all I think Hall’s piece does a good job in showing that there are different ways of looking at time, but that he over generalizes in saying that certain cultures are either on or the other, and not both.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)