High and Low Context Culture
Tendencies of High and Low Context Cultures
Effective communication can be tricky even within the same culture. Subtle nuances and messages can cause even the simplest message to get lost in translation.
Understanding general cultural communication tendencies can help us make sure that we’re sending a clear message. One way of classifying these tendencies is by understanding whether the culture is high or low context.
Low context cultures generally focus on…
- Specific, detailed communication
- Logic and facts
- Getting work done
- The words being said
- Being straightforward and precise
- Following the rules
High context cultures generally focus on…
- Indirect communication
- Relationships and feelings
- Trust and authority
- The body language and non-verbal messages being sent
- Social context, including status, relationships, and boundaries
- Saying more with fewer words