In the P1 Module 1: Cultural Dichotomies, we highlighted essential cultural dichotomies as the main culprit of our ineffective communication with Chinese people. We reminded everyone that just having KNOWLEDGE doesn't change outcomes, so we focused our training on developing and utilizing more POSITIVE IMAGINATION and CURIOSITY.
This module will review the idiosyncrasies of how Chinese people communicate through a breakdown analysis of CIRCULAR CONVERSATIONS. We will introduce tools, tips, and tactics to deescalate negative dialogue to make new ideas more comfortable to accept.
This module is also an analysis into the origins (triggers) of the majority of our frustrations doing business in China. Every impasse or disappointment can generally be traced back to circular conversations that failed to reach real consensus or emotional alignment.
Lesson 1: Men Are From Mars
Lesson 2: When we ask WHY?
Lesson 3: Instruments of Influence
Lesson 4: Form, Essence, Substance
Lesson 5: A Broken Clock
Conversations FEEL circular when the other side doesn't seem to grasp your main point, and a frustrating debate or argument ensues. Either party can trigger these types of conversations, but they can also be managed and more quickly deescalated with new insights, strategic responses, and control of our emotions (EQ).
Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus -- When we react to what we FEEL instead of what the other person means, our misinterpretation will trigger a disjointed, irrational debate or circular conversation -- Women need to feel understood, while men need to feel appreciated. When either or both sides lack the EMPATHY to respond appropriately, the relationship suffers.
The challenge we face communicating with our significant other is a microcosm of frustrations we will encounter when attempting to align across vast cultural differences. The good news is creating new communication patterns across Chinese cultural dichotomies is significantly more straightforward than the interplanetary struggles between men and women.
