Business and Leisure Communication in India - Essay Example

There is no doubt that today’s world is rapidly becoming vast as the business and social environment expands to include numerous geographic locations, as well as span numerous cultures. This has implications on how people and businesses from diverse cultures communicate and interact (Storti 9). Considering that people come from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds, it can become difficult for individuals to understand how to communicate effectively with other individuals from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Modern and internet technology have opened up new marketplaces that allow us to conduct and promote businesses to new cultures and geographic locations (Vilanilam 39). In order to understand the importance of individual cultural values, beliefs, and attitudes, this paper will discuss the about how India as a country communicates in business settings and leisure settings.

India is a South Asian country and is the second-most populous country and the seventh-largest country by area. It is a multi-ethnic, multilingual, and pluralistic society. It is home to two major families of language: Indo-Aryan, which is spoken by about 74 percent of the country’s population, and Dravidian spoken by about 24 percent of the country’s population (Singh 12). It has no national language but Hindi, which is spoken, by the largest number of speakers is the official government language. English is extensively used in administration and business and has the “subsidiary official language” status, and it is an important medium of education in the country (Vilanilam 64). Indian culture is one of the richest and oldest and it spans over 4,500 years. Indian culture is founded on Hindu mythology, literature, and philosophy, as well as many practices and beliefs that still exist presently including moksa, karma, dharma, and yoga. India has religious diversity with major religions including Hinduism, Christianity, Jainism, Islam, and Sikhism. It is important to note that Hinduism is the predominant religion in the country. India is one of the most culturally and ethnically diverse places in the world; its diverse cultures are a product of numerous migration waves over thousands of years (Storti 27).

This may also be evidenced by the fact that subordinates may be reluctant in accepting responsibility during communication. In addition, one should understand that while communicating in a business and leisure setting, the establishment of relationships in Indian society is very important (Singh 77). Often, in Indian society friendship forms the basis for business and leisure activities. Indian people are often reluctant to do business with strangers and therefore it is important for one to establish relationships directly or indirectly by making contact through intermediaries before engaging in any meaningful business or leisure interaction and activities. In business and even in a leisure setting one should take plenty of time in building up trust before starting off. It is also important that one maintain harmony, and try as much as possible to avoid confrontation and conflict during discussions (Storti 95).

While in a business setting and leisure setting, one should consider other cultural aspects during communication. For example, while Indians appreciate punctuality, they tend to have quite flexible deadlines and schedules. Therefore, one should always keep their schedule flexible enough to be in line with Indians flexibility in regard to time (Vilanilam 116).

For effective communication in India, one should also ensure that they are concise and clear; one should use simple and short sentences, as well as avoid as much as possible use dialect expressions, jargon, irony, and idioms. Moreover, speaking more slowly is appreciated in India and so one should pause regularly while communicating. Moreover, it is critical for one to reinforce the message by maintaining eye contact, helping the audience understand by using intonation, and getting louder on keywords in order to communicate meaning effectively. It is also essential that while communicating in a business and leisure setting, one should be open-minded; ask open-ended questions, suspend judgment, be objective, and avoid reaching conclusions too fast (Singh 86).