High and Low Context Communication

We asked a group of international school staff if they were high context or low context communicators.

⬇ Low-context: Good communication is precise, simple, and clear. Messages are expressed and understood at face value. Repetition is appreciated if it helps clarify the communication.

⬆ High-context: Good communication is sophisticated, nuanced, and layered. Messages are both spoken and read between the lines. Messages are often implied but not plainly expressed.

(from Erin Meyer's book, The Culture Map)

Folks from Canada, the US, and the UK are traditionally lower context communicators. Asians, especially Chinese and Japanese, are much higher context communicators, in general. There are large variations along the scale within each country.

As an international school educator, your colleagues, students, and parents likely come from a different cultural background regarding communication. How can you work best with those who communicate differently?

🔅 First think about the case where you are from a high context communication culture and you have low context colleagues. When listening to your low context colleagues, respect and appreciate their care in getting their message across, even if you think they over explain. Be prepared to move your questions from vague to more specific. When sharing information with your lower context colleagues, try to be more explicit about what you are saying. What you assume is obvious likely isn’t to them. Ask questions to make sure your message was heard.

🔅 Next imagine you are from a low context communication culture and you have high context colleagues. When listening, try to notice what is being said as well as what isn’t being said. Listen intently to infer the bottom line of what is being said. Ask for clarification as needed, explaining that you are asking because you care (rather than to annoy with multiple questions). When communicating, you likely don’t have to repeat things. Feel free to explain that you know you can over communicate and they are welcome to tell you when they have understood. Admitting that it’s not your intention to treat anyone as a child allows them to verify they have understood with a short recap so the conversation can move on.

As for us, Flora Xu is a high context communicator and Sarah Aldous is at the opposite end of the scale. Learning about this continuum has made our communication a lot better - and we are becoming more patient with each other.

💡 Where are you on the high/low context scale?
💡 What insight are you having about your communication with colleagues?