Erin Meyer, a professor at INSEAD and author of "The Culture Map," dives into the fascinating world of cross-cultural communication. She discusses how cultural norms shape honesty and assertiveness, and shares her personal experiences with misunderstandings on her book tour in Japan. The conversation highlights the importance of adapting communication styles for effective collaboration across cultures. Meyer also emphasizes laughter as a bridge in cross-cultural interaction and the critical role of cultural intelligence in diverse workplaces.
39:01
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Misinterpreting Silence
Erin Meyer had a cross-cultural experience in Japan where she learned about indirect communication.
After her presentations, she noticed no one raised their hands when she asked for questions, unlike in the U.S.
insights INSIGHT
Participation vs. Preparation
Americans tend to speak more in meetings due to participation grades in school, valuing engagement over thorough preparation.
Other cultures prioritize thoughtful contributions and view speaking without preparation as wasting time.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Differing Meeting Styles
American managers complained about Chinese colleagues' disengagement in meetings, but the Chinese prepared extensively beforehand.
The Chinese leader found the Americans focused on showcasing knowledge rather than genuine discussion.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
In this book, Reed Hastings and Erin Meyer explore the counterintuitive management culture that has driven Netflix's success. The authors discuss how Netflix's approach, which includes no vacation or expense policies, generous severance for underperforming employees, and a focus on candid feedback, has led to unparalleled innovation and speed. Drawing on hundreds of interviews with current and past Netflix employees, the book provides actionable lessons for leaders on how to build and maintain a highly innovative and adaptable organizational culture.
The Culture Map
Breaking Through the Invisible Boundaries of Global Business
Erin Meyer
In 'The Culture Map,' Erin Meyer presents a comprehensive framework for understanding and managing cultural differences in the global workplace. The book introduces an eight-scale model to analyze how cultures vary along different dimensions, such as communication styles (high or low context), leadership approaches (hierarchical or egalitarian), and feedback methods (direct or indirect). Meyer uses engaging real-life stories and anecdotes to illustrate common misunderstandings and provides actionable advice for improving international collaboration. The book is essential for anyone working in multicultural teams or managing global projects, offering practical tools to enhance communication, leadership, and decision-making across diverse cultural contexts.
When talking and working with people from different cultures, sometimes meanings and intentions can get lost in translation. Erin Meyer is an expert on how we communicate and collaborate differently around the world. She and Adam discuss how cultural norms affect honesty and assertiveness, unpack the science behind some common American stereotypes, and identify strategies for understanding and bridging cultural divides.
ReThinking 
