Culturally Mindful Communication: Essential Skills for Public and Nonprofit Professionals

✍ Scribed by Masami Nishishiba

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2017
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 217
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Intercultural communication is a necessary skill for those who work in the public and nonprofit sectors, and yet there is a dearth of literature available to help public and nonprofit professionals develop an ability to effectively communicate, interact, and lead in a multicultural society. Drawing on research in intercultural communication, psychology, and public and nonprofit administration, Culturally Mindful Communication provides useful strategies for students and practitioners of public service to improve their intercultural communication skills.

To facilitate student learning, several useful pedagogical features are employed throughout the book. The reader follows the stories of two fictional characters – Lavita, a cultural coordinator in city government, and Leo, a program manager at a nonprofit – in their intercultural communication challenges in public and nonprofit sectors. Mini-case stories called ‘cultural moments’ are incorporated to illustrate real-world intercultural communication examples and to invite application of the tools and concepts introduced in the text. Each chapter includes a set of discussion questions designed to build on the intercultural communication challenges of Lavita and Leo and the ‘cultural moments’ as well as activities that can be completed in class or as homework assignments. Designed to offer guidance to both current and would-be public servants, Culturally Mindful Communication will be required reading for Public Administration and Public Affairs courses that address diversity and cultural competence, as well as for practitioners looking to develop their intercultural leadership and communication skills.

✦ Table of Contents

Cover
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Table of Contents
List of illustrations
Acknowledgment
About the author
1. Introduction: Why do public and nonprofit professionals need to be culturally mindful communicators?
Communication challenge
Importance of culturally mindful communication skills for public and nonprofit administrators
Overview of this book
Chapter summary
Questions for discussion and written assignments
Note
References
2. Understanding cultural differences
Communication challenge
What is culture?
Ways to assess cultural differences and similarities
Chapter summary
Questions for discussion and written assignments
References
3. Understanding the intercultural communication process
Communication challenge
Intercultural communication
Culturally mindful communication
What happens in intercultural communication?
Chapter summary
Questions for discussion and written assignments
Note
References
4. Verbal communication
Communication challenge
The function of language
Relationship between verbal communication and culture
Difference in verbal communication style across cultures
Chapter summary
Questions for discussion and written assignments
References
5. Nonverbal communication
Communication challenge
The nature of nonverbal messages
Functions of nonverbal messages
Forms of nonverbal communication
Chapter summary
Questions for discussion and written assignments
Notes
References
6. What hinders culturally mindful communication? Stereotyping, prejudice, and social privilege
Communication challenge
Barriers for culturally mindful communication processes
Chapter summary
Questions for discussion and written assignments
Note
References
7. Working in a multicultural team
Communication challenge
Multicultural team and team processes
Benefits of multicultural teams
Key considerations for culturally mindful communication in a multicultural team
Chapter summary
Questions for discussion and written assignments
References
8. Working with multicultural stakeholders in the community
Communication challenge
Engaging multicultural stakeholders
Framework for culturally mindful community engagement
Chapter summary
Questions for discussion and written assignments
References
9. Leading with culturally mindful communication
Communication challenge
Culturally mindful communication skills and leadership
Becoming a culturally mindful communicator
Chapter summary
Questions for discussion and written assignments
References
Index