Episode 60: Communicating Globally with Raúl Sánchez and Dan Bullock

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April 19th, 2021

53 mins 42 secs

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About this Episode

Welcome to Real Job Talk to NYU Professors Raúl Sánchez and Dan Bullock. Raúl and Dan teach a the Center for International Studies and write for the Wall Street Journey while also conducting training on international communication for organizations such as The UN and International Student group. Dan and Raúl wrote the book How to Communicate Effectively with Anyone, Anywhere to help people communicate better across geographical, language, and cultural boundaries.

How did the book come up? Well, one night over Arby’s, Raúl, Dan, and Raúl’s twin (and book artist) Rod were talking about astronomy, stories, and the overview effect looking at communication when thinking of the planet as a whole vs. as separate places and cultures.

Many people are working in global teams, and this book came about from the need for Global English, which takes out idioms, slang, and anything that doesn’t translate. Dan and Raúl encourage us to think about how we use language, and how hard it would be to understand something like “it blew my mind” to a second language learner.

Classically, there are 3 ways to make an argument: appeal to logic, to emotion, and to credibility. These are important to include in a presentation designed to persuide a spectrum of different audiences. You have to think about culture too; 70% of the world operates in a "high-context" culture, one which is more collectivist , where people in a group are assumed to understand implicit information and context shared by the culture. On a global stage, appealing to people in these kinds of cultures, respect is important, as are knowing how to build trust and to disagree. You have to balance your implicit and explicit audiences and lead your audience on a journey through storytelling that will make the audience the hero of the story.

We have schemata, or blueprints, for certain words, but our experiences and preferences shape how we experience words and stories. When we help people connect our words to our frameworks, our messages are clearer throughout.

Speaking is done to persuade, entertain, or inform. Diction is important, as is making sure you’re connecting with your whole audience. You have to 1. Know your audience 2. Know your purpose 3. Know your message and 4. Know the value of your message. Carrying the value throughout will keep people engaged.

In their book, Dan and Raúl talk about mirroring, and we ask about mirroring without losing yourself. It’s really about building natural rapport and connection. It’s about creating a spark that will move ideas and collaboration forwared, as well as fulfillment and service to each other.

We move on to networking globally. We talk about building a network in your space, seeking out people across the globe, and then building ideas as you build out your network one person at a time. Carry out networking for discovery more than results. This helps build richer ideas and a truly global outlook. When you network for discovery, it leads to opportunities.

What about when you screw up? Take the blame! Say things like, “I wasn’t clear.” Ask questions, look at body language, and know that the responsibility is on the communicator. Being direct, fact-based, and looking for connection are key to global communication. Other tips are to be explicity, not to imply; and to be aware in all communication around what we are implying. The goal is to clarify and make sure it’s a win-win for everyone in the conversation.

This is an important book because it teaches us basic conversation skills that help us communicate globally and build relationships.

Raúl's and Dan's book: How to Communicate Effectively With Anyone, Anywhere: Your Passport to Connecting Globally