Speaking of India: Bridging the Communication Gap When Working With Indians

Craig Storti has helped more than 20 global companies in just this situation. With more than a dozen years of experience working between two cultures, he has trained thousands of employees, interviewed hundreds of managers and has identified key cultural flashpoints. The result is a powerful series of Best Practices, the basis of Speaking of India. From the difference between the way Indians and Westerners use "yes" and "no" to the secrets of a successful conference call, to the changing status of women in the Indian workplace to the do's and don'ts of daily interaction, this essential guide helps us realize the ambitious dreams of working together... once we understand each other!

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All Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review:
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Highly recommended, 2008-06-14
This book is essential for any American working with Indians. He gives clear descriptions of the differences in how the two cultures tend to function. I am an American living in India, and this book has made a huge difference in my ability to communicate well. Highly recommended.


0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

Great addition for your rightshoring baggage, 2008-05-31
In Speaking of India neemt Craig Storti je mee naar de valkuilen die Indiase en westerse collega's kunnen tegenkomen in hun contacten op de 'werkvloer'. Tussen quotes, want de werkvloer kan een verbinding tussen locaties verspreid over de wereld zijn, of een op één plek samengebracht team, waarin de beide culturen elkaar letterlijk ontmoeten. Storti waakt voor generalisaties, hoewel ze voor de beeldvorming natuurlijk wel handig zijn. Diverse herkenbare voorbeelddialogen laten zien hoe snel communiceren 'zo dicht mogelijk langs elkaar heen praten' wordt.

Aspecten als hiërarchie, Hofstra's onderzoeken naar collectivisme versus individualisme en machtsafstand, verschillen tussen mannen en vrouwen en het Engels worden beschreven. Elk hoofdstuk sluit af met best practices en tips voor zowel de Indiase als westerse optiek. Het boekje rondt na diverse communicatie issues in de taal (bevestigen, ontkennen, positieve en negatieve feedback, vragen stellen, het bespreken van deadlines) af met een overzicht van diverse gebruiken, waarin westerlingen en Indiërs verschillen, zoals eetgewoonten, cadeaus bij een visite, het dragen van schoenen, kledingkeuze, het schudden van handen om het omhelzen van mensen van hetzelfde of andere geslacht. Handig voor in je multi-culti, rightshoring bagage.


4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

Finally Hearing India!, 2008-05-02
As a project manager for a US-based software and web development company, I had some apprehension about working with a new off-shore programming team in India. As a second-generation American, paired with my experience teaching English and citizenship classes to refugees from around the world, I've come to know first-hand how challenging, and disastrous, culture misunderstandings can be. Now, with regular cross-cultural global communication also becoming a part of my career, I felt the pressure to make sure my misunderstanding did not interfere with business and project success.

Craig Storti comes to the rescue in a quick, yet comprehensive, read. I kept this book with in my laptop case to read a chapter whenever I had a free moment. I was able to absorb the content, even in short reading sessions. I found the introduction of the book helpful in expressing the crucial importance of cross-cultural communication in today's business world.

There are many features that set this book apart from others in its category. I really appreciated the scripted examples of conversations between an Indian and a Westerner that are included with the chapters. These examples really helped to make a connection in my mind between the lesson of the text and real world application. Storti points out the missteps in each of the example conversations, and how it could have been prevented. The extensive section of the book devoted singly to the "Indian Yes" and other agreements is especially invaluable and a must to any Western individual seeking to prevent the biggest road-block for Westerners in Indian communication. Non-verbal communication is also included, seasoned with rich content regarding cultural and familial backgrounds which create the foundation of differences in our communication styles, both of which give a comprehensive understanding.
The end of chapter summaries give you the necessary points for your own comprehension check and review.

I recommend this book specifically for Canadians, Americans, British, and Western Europeans working with East Indians in the business world. Although the book is written in a business context, teachers, volunteers, and vacation travelers would also benefit from the communication elements of this book, for a richer experience in India.

I shared this book with some Indian colleagues here in the US, who are quite Western. They found the book quite humorous, but said the accuracy and truth of it all is right on. Speaking of India has expanded my cultural understanding, and the effectiveness of my communicational understanding, with both East Indians here as "Westernized" long-time Americans, and Indians completely outside of my Western-centric experience.


5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

A short bridge across a long communication gap, 2008-05-01
Craig Storti provides a straightforward, fact-based and eminently useful guide to culture and communication issues that complicate business between Westerners and Indians. Much of the literature on culture and business is vague and theoretical - so this book stands apart. The author targets the problems that are most likely to arise in commerce, offers detailed real-life examples and shows what practical solutions businesspeople can implement. He is evenhanded in his advice, offering tips to both Westerners and Indians. Most importantly, getAbstract finds that he is businesslike in his approach, focused, practical and realistic about what is achievable.

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