There is a great blog of an American living in Poland that I would like to recommend to you as its a very interesting perspective to learn about. During communist rule, educational and economic advancement of the Polish worker and peasants were fostered. Journal of Intercultural Communication Research, 46(2), 161-172. https://doi.org/10.1080/17475759.2017.1292944. For this study, the researchers studied 606 participants in four different countries: Denmark, Iceland, Poland, and the United States. The other countries did not differ from each other with regard to trait affection given. You may be wondering, by this point, how low-context and high-context cultures differ across different countries. Starting one step at a time to develop these can really transform the way you react and manage challenging intercultural scenarios! Asian, African, Arab, central European and Latin American cultures are generally considered to be high-context cultures. What Is The Difference Between Catholic And Christian? He ended up more comfortable and confident when it comes to talking about emotions, with a tool to help him actually name what he's feeling, and empowered to reach for his professional goals. In an individualistic culture, if someone asked what you do for a living, they would answer by saying their profession or occupation. It will be based on the book entitled The Culture Map by an INSEAD professor and cross-cultural specialist Erin Meyer. Although Poland and England are not so far away from each other on the communication scale, I had moments when low-context behaviours were annoying for me. Mikoaj z Radomia was the first noted Polish composer who lived in the 15th century. High-context cultures are more likely to be intuitive, contemplative, and concerned with the collective. I believe that this book is a great source for reading about cross-cultural differences. Outstanding Polish literature was produced in the 20th century and the Avant-Garde experimentation played an important role during this time. International. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Another popular alcoholic drink is the Polish mead which is a honey wine produced in the country since the Middle Ages. The dances evolved from a peasants style of dancing to ballroom style dancing by the addition of ballet flavors following the annexation of Eastern Europe by Napoleon. They may have the respect of their subordinates who complete tasks for them, but younger employees may not trust them to respond to the demands of modern business. Join me in the webinar on Tuesday, 7 March and let's discuss how you can ensure not to fall into the trap of those myths! But making decisions may take longer than in some fixed time cultures because of the emphasis on maintaining relationships and building consensus. Don't hesitate to ask clarifying questions if the intent is not clear or the message sounds confusing. The peasants and workers constitute the majority of the population. For understanding culture, Hofstede acknowledges that this distinction ultimately has a lot to do with work goals.28 On the masculine end of the spectrum, individuals tend to be focused on items like earnings, recognition, advancement, and challenge. Face gaining refers to the strategies a person might use to build their reputation and feelings of prestige (e.g., talking about accomplishments, active social media presence), whereas face losing refers to those behaviors someone engages in that can harm their reputation or feelings of prestige (e.g., getting caught in a lie, failing). Business is business. 2023 IOR Global Services. Ultimately, we can define these types of cultures in the following way: A society is called masculine when emotional gender roles are clearly distinct: men are supposed to be assertive, tough, and focused on material success, whereas women are supposed to be more modest, tender, and concerned with quality of life. Having local representation can contribute to trust and sometimes lead to less strenuous negotiations. 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. #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, Yasser started out our conversation curious about coaching, but also a bit uncertain, anxious and hopeful about what it could bring. Negotiations with new customers are going to be tougher and longer until a relationship is established. I didn't tell many people about me looking for a job abroad, so for some it was somewhat surprising. Polish literature developed and evolved since the arrival of Christianity in Poland. Authors: Przemysaw Hensel No full-text available . What am I going to do without you!'. 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. Most marriages were arranged and divorces were rare and looked down upon. STRATEGY is the awareness of your own cultural preferences and how they impact your interactions with others, as well as the ability to plan for multicultural interactions and check whether your understanding was correct or not. I would now therefore like to share some of my examples and experiences related to this dimension. People from high-context culture communicate in an allusive way, body language is very important because the interlocutors use non-verbal signals to a large extent. 7. Poland is also known for its electronic dance music with Vader being the most famous band performing this genre of music. ACTION is your ability to adapt (and not adapt) when working in multicultural contexts. 6: Cultural and Environmental Factors in Interpersonal Communication, Book: Interpersonal Communication - A Mindful Approach to Relationships (Wrench et al. My first thought was not Oh cool, good to have that in writing, but Why did she bother sending that to us? A mix of 'Oh that's so great for you! Is Poland a high context culture? and also 'Oh wow, noo, you're leaving? D.I.V.E. )%2F06%253A_Cultural_and_Environmental_Factors_in_Interpersonal_Communication%2F6.03%253A_Cultural_Characteristics_and_Communication, \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}}}\) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash{#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\), 6.4: Improving Intercultural Communication Skills, https://doi.org/10.1080/17475759.2017.1292944, Jason S. Wrench, Narissra M. Punyanunt-Carter & Katherine S. Thweatt, source@https://milnepublishing.geneseo.edu/interpersonalcommunication, status page at https://status.libretexts.org, Strong Distinctions Between In and Out-Groups. Asia, the Polish name, is spelled the same as the continent but pronounced very differently! Another very important researcher in the area of culture is a man by the name of Geert Hofstede. So I was talking about Asia tables (region-Asia), while my teammate was taking about Asia from the Polish team confirming their participants for a Poland table The father holds absolute authority and must be obeyed by the children. The province also promotes the offer of "healthy" tourism. Poles consider themselves independent and self-disciplined. This is my favourite post on Polonization blog, but I recommend it allto be honest. Our Privacy Policy can be found. Repetition is appreciated if it helps clarify the communication, High-context: Good communication is sophisticated, nuanced, and layered. Summarize the importance of Stella Ting-Toomeys face and facework in interpersonal relationships. Traditionally, the Polish households have been large with three generations living under the same roof. There is also an intelligentsia whose population is steadily increasing as is the population of workers. High-context cultures will use communication that focuses on underlying context, meaning, and tone in the message, and not just the words themselves. Lets laugh together - what are some of your stories of language misunderstandings? Long-term orientation focuses on the future and not the present or the past. If youre not used to it you can either ignore it or get easily offended as they use sarcasm a lot, usually in a form of statement about a reality (eg. It is crucial that we compare the cultures in relation to each other on the graph. and Mrs. John Smith. In feminine cultures, men and women are upheld to the same standards, and their relationships should be based on mutual friendship. Most business entertaining takes place in restaurants. In these cultures, there tends to be high respect for the past and the various traditions that have made that culture great. Formal Communicating in High Context vs. Low Context Cultures The next category identified by Hofstede involves the concept of uncertainty avoidance.30 Life is full of uncertainty. What does that mean? Meyer defines them as follows: Low-context: Good communication is precise, simple and clear. From an interpersonal perspective, people from high uncertainty avoidant cultures are going to have a lot more anxiety associated with interactions involving people from other cultures. Use titles and surnames until invited to use first names. Always, and I hate travelling that often and being tired Is it worth it for these relationships? In HCC, on the other hand, intention or meaning can best be conveyed through implicit contexts, including gestures, social customs, silence, nuance, or tone of voice.20 Table 6.3.1 further explores the differences between low-context and high-context cultures. #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, Are you a global leader who has these topics on your mind recently, but not yet sure of the 'how'? 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. The rest of the world tends toward high-context communication. This post is a part of the series where Id like to share some of my cross-cultural experiences and stories. "In high-context culture, people tend to personalize their disagreement with others. Similarly, trait affection received was significantly associated with the individualism-collectivism and uncertainty avoidance dimensions of cultures. 36, Mansson, D. H., & Sigurardttir, A. G. (2017). Recruiting is done through executive search firms and through the internet. If you're curious about coaching, but perhaps not ready (or not needing) a longer-term commitment at this time, the ad-hoc session set up with me may be just the thing you are looking for. This page titled 6.3: Cultural Characteristics and Communication is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Jason S. Wrench, Narissra M. Punyanunt-Carter & Katherine S. Thweatt (OpenSUNY) via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform; a detailed edit history is available upon request. 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. Christianity is the dominant religion in Poland with about 92.2% of Poles being Roman Catholics. In my opinion switching from high-context culture to a low-context one is much easier, technically, than the other way around. 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 show one's disagreement and anger in public is tantamount to admitting loss of control and face, because what is being said is taken personally which may have an influence on interpersonal relationships. Some everyday Polish foods include kiebasa (a type of sausage), pierogi (filled dumplings), pyzy (dough balls filled with meat), kopytka (potato dumpling), gobki (cabbage leaves wrapped around meat and rice), bigos (stewed meat and cabbage), etc. In his 1959 book, The Silent Language, Hall states, culture is communication and communication is culture.19 In the previous chapter, we talked about the importance of nonverbal communication. 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. How did your friends react to your decision of moving abroad? 29. Privacy Policy. According to Hofstede and his coauthors, Indulgence stands for a tendency to allow relatively free gratification of basic and natural human desires related to enjoying life and having fun. Use of titles is expected until someone suggests first-name basis. Need for Certainty The top 5 percent had incomes of $191,157 or more.25. Particularism Differentiate between Edward T. Halls low-context and highcontext cultures. For example, an invitation to a party would be addressed to Mr. With class, many cultures have three clear segments low, middle, and upper. "the Culture Map": 8 Scales for Work - Business Insider However, it is sometimes challenging for outsiders to understand the real message in the communication because people may talk around the main issue and expect the real meaning will be understood. High-Context Culture: 4 Characteristics of High-Context Cultures Humor is sometimes used to make a point. In addition to the previous characteristics, Hofstede noticed a fifth characteristic of cultures that he deemed long-term and short-term orientation. A traditional Polish meal starts with soup (zupa), followed by a main course with meat (cutlets) served with cooked (boiled) potatoes or dumplings. Wiki User 2009-07-14 11:34:45 This answer is: Study guides Hungary 22 cards What form of government exists in the People's Republic of China today What is. Pomeranian Voivodeship - a voivodeship located in the northern part of Poland. The Poles place great importance on gentle manners and graceful behavior. In high-context communication, a message cannot be understood without a great deal of background information. In the past, HR was seen as a channel for instilling the goals of the communist party. Meetings generally start on time. Face is the standing or position a person has in the eyes of others. Poland is definitely a culture of a higher context than UK. 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. Striving for everyone to have equal rights is an important theme. Like China, Brazil is a high-context culture. Its important to understand that for an American for instance (America is located to the very left of the scale, by the low-context), both British and Polish cultures may seem very high-context and combining that with a tendency to use sarcastic humour cultural shock guaranteed! This is most common for women, but some men also embrace and kiss. Around 10 to 15% of the Polish population is composed of the nobles or the gentry called the szlachta. The earliest literature produced in the country was in Latin. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. High-context cultures will use communication that focuses on underlying context, meaning, and tone in the message, and not just the words themselves. Speedway is extremely popular in Poland and the Polish Extraleague attracts the greatest number of spectators among all sports played in the country. In high-context communication, a message cannot be understood without a great deal of background information. What does High and Low Context mean? - Project Abroad The ability to navigate successfully across cultures is not a luxury; it is a necessity. Countries that fall into this categorization are Japan, China, France, Spain, Brazil, and more. Hiking, skiing, ski jumping, and mountain biking are popular activities enjoyed by both amateur and professional sportsperson visiting the mountains of Poland. There was atime when I attended a meeting where a decision has been made on the task split and further steps of the project. The terms "low-context culture" (LCC) and "high-context culture" (HCC) were created by Hall to describe how communication styles differ across cultures. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Bg si rodzi, Bogurodzica are some of the oldest musical compositions originating in Poland. Expect polite formality at initial meetings; warmer interactions take place after relationships and trust have been established. Meyer in her book mentions that there are a couple of factors influencing countries position on that scale. Each of the participants (culturally diverse team) was making notes on their particular tasks as well as general goals of the project. Wincenty Kadubek, Gallus Anonymus, and Jan Dugosz were some of the famous Middle Age Polish authors. . In my opinion Polish sarcasm is however very often related to some linguistic games or is bound to historic events or leaders. Working with people from low context culture . Children are taught to be polite and the Polish society stresses a lot on polite behavior. Other national heroes include: John Paul II, Lech Walesa, Nicolaus Copernicus and Frederic Chopin Poland is bordered by 7 countries and the Baltic Sea. Poland is in the middle on the scale, closer to low-context which doesn't mean it is easer for us to adjust. Admittedly, in Hofstedes research, there does tend to be a difference between females and males on these characteristics (females tend to be more relationally oriented and males more assertive), which is why Hofstede went with the terms masculinity and femininity in the first place. You can read a short introduction to the series here. Poland, and the United States. I think I have been a coconut for a long time, but since living in the UK I embraced some more of the peachiness Therefore the landing page is image-heavy. The history and customs of the country are well reflected by the Jan Matejko inspired Historicist painting of Krakw school. Wigilia is a popular Christmas Eve supper consumed in Poland. Flicking one finger against your neck is an invitation to join someone for a drink. Messages are often implied but not plainly expressed." Here is the graph showing UK and Polish cultures compared with my preference on the Communication scale. 45 Lien represents the confidence of society in the integrity of egos moral character, the loss of which makes it impossible for him to function properly within the community. 2.2: Taxonomies of Cultural Patterns - Social Sci LibreTexts We also acknowledge previous National Science Foundation support under grant numbers 1246120, 1525057, and 1413739. In any major area of academic study, there are luminaries that one should understand. DM me with the word 'AD HOC' and I'll reply with the details of how you can schedule yourself in for that! Imagine youre having an interaction with an individual from India. According to Hsien Chin Hu, the concept of face stems from two distinct Chinese words, lien and mien-tzu. In 1924, the novel Chopi won Wadysaw Reymont a Nobel Prize in Literature. One of Halls most essential contributions to the field of intercultural communication is the idea of low-context and high-context cultures. Several types of soups like ros, flaki, and zupa ogrkowa are also part of the Polish cuisine. US is the most low-context culture followed by Australia, Canada, Netherlands, Germany, UK. However, in collectivistic cultures, a person would answer in terms of the group, organization, and/or corporation that they serve. Formality is very important in Poland. yes it is a high context culture! The danger here is that a person from a direct culture may come across as insensitive and ill-mannered, while the person from the indirect culture may appear scattered and shifty. 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. High and Low Context Culture Impacts on International Retailing High-context cultures, on the other hand, are cultures where understanding a message is dependent on the cultural context and a communicators nonverbal behavior. Meetings are formal. What is Poland culture? I know that the British are often characterised as masters of sarcasm and irony. The Renaissance period also witnessed the production of great literary works by the Polish authors and poets. As the cities in Poland grew during the Middle Ages, the food markets of the country flourished and culinary exchange of ideas also grew.