When things are very unfamiliar there are a lot of vices that come into play. Priya Kaul thinks that is part of the hurdle really with cross-cultural communication. It is difficult to say who would be biased with what, but definitely there are certain biases that come into play. The challenge is to realize, argues Kaul, that there are biases and what your own are, so that you know what to look out for as you go ahead.
It is difficult to step back from your bias and look at yourself. Such self-reflection sometimes needs a distance from one’s own culture and home to realize the values one actually cherishes just like the fish that doesn’t know what water is until it is out of the water.
Kaul notices that when people realize that things aren’t going the way they want, it’s maybe the time to look at why they are not going the way they want. And to look at yourself at what you have done and what you have said, acted on, rather than at the next question. Of course you have to look at the other persons response as well. Once you go into a global atmosphere like we have now, we are thrown in a lot of other cultures that are now put forward. So it is a balancing act to some extent where you have to balance out your personal cultural needs, social demands, what is globally required in a professional atmosphere, not easy
