iCom IQ Podcast

Use the work of Dr. Ting-Toomey that focus on face work and face negotiation theory to start managing intercultural conflicts when they strike. No doubt conflict is inevitable, but it doesn't have to be impossible. Face negotiation theory helps to put out the fire when emotions run wild The episode discusses 5 key conflict styles that tend to vary across cultures. For over 30 years, research has been testing the effects of how people balance attention to self, others, and even the overall relationship in face threatening situations. People from some cultures value dominating a conflict, others value obliging styles of conflict, while some people will value integrating styles of conflict. Use the information to apply to your own situations, the next time you find yourself in a situation when cultural values do not line up. Learn the indicators of how people express their values during conflict, so that you can negotiate your way across a variety of cultural settings in the face of conflict.

If you wish to become better at seeing the development of culture, take the ideas of Structuration theory to begin seeing the rules people live by and the way resources are shared. Then, begin seeing how people live by those rules to evolve culture over time. Apply the theory to your own cultural setting, and begin understanding more details about the traces of cultural memory around you.  

Use the theory of Self-perceived Communication Competence to become more willing to communicate in a variety of communication conditions. Find out where you're at, where others are at, and how to close the gap with people in your new cultural setting. The more people believe they are competent the more likely they become to try to communicate - discover the communication conditions and apply them to your own life across cultures.

The 5 nonverbal communication techniques are useful for just about any intercultural situation. Use them to learning to regulate and adapt to a variety scenarios. Find out for yourself by testing what the locals consider normal when communicating across just about every situation, as you learn to fit in.

Find out how attribution works to explain how people explain negotiations based on how they perceive the responsibilities of other people and the emotions involved. Make your own way across cultures by applying the theory to detecting the beliefs and values of other people you meet.

One of the most prolific theories of all-time in the field of intercultural communication goes under examination. Though it has been useful, those old ways are beginning not to work. Find out what some of the limitations are, and learn some tips about how to apply the theory to your own intercultural encounters.

Listen to the story of how Make It Rain has grown from the ground up, to celebrate the similarities and differences across a variety of communities of service. From local communities to people around the world, Julie & Austin share what it takes to answer the call of service to others - "helping others help others, we believe in the power of people to work together to make a difference."

On the adventure of a lifetime for nearly 3 years now, they have visited more than 100 different cultural communities, throughout North America, Central America, Europe, and now Australia. Together they have mastered how to endure the exhaustion of a wide range of unfamiliar environments, and understand what it takes to engage intercultural experiences in a variety of locations around the world as real full-time travelers.

Listen to what it is like as an entrepreneur in the developing economy during war-time in Afghanistan for nearly a decade, make precious long-lasting relationships, and make it home again.

Take Dr. Allen's advice about what it takes to be in a new cultural setting with tolerance for ambiguity, and survive without having to know everything. Learn to negotiate your way across a diversity of cultural values and let go of the need for certainty.

From what started out as a 9 month language acquisition program to a 5 year stay, a new family, and immigration, Pacheco takes us through his most difficult times and most rewarding experiences from Rio de Janeiro to California.

With a family heritage from eastern Europe and the Middle-East, Adil shares his experience with his time in both the US and the Netherlands. He provides insight about how cultural beliefs and values are sometimes about different ways of doing similar things.

With both an international BA and an MA, Valentina has grown up with with both Italian and German heritage, and has spent significant time in both locations. Listen to her advice as she shares her experience as an international student for both her BA and MA degree in media and communication, and how that has lead to working in Dubai as an associate of a PR consultancy.

The story of a lifetime of service around the world. Paul Moore II is president and CEO of Citihope International. Citihope international is an organization that often cooperates with corporations, other international relief agencies, and the United States government to put a healthy life within reach of everyone by preventing disease, and providing cure to underserved populations worldwide. Citihope's strategy is to focus resources on a few major world areas to “make a world of difference for good.”

Take the advice from Miguel Maxwell about the impact of teaching from a student-centered, interpersonal style of teaching and what that means for intercultural perspectives, from one cultural setting to another.

Alberto shares his innovative ways of culture centered international aid efforts, that bond with members of the local culture. From Panama to around the world him and his team are winning international awards.

Find out what research says, and learn to apply it to your own intercultural experiences. The explanation of concentric circles in his theoretical model and his latest book, "Intercultural Communication: A Contextual Approach" 6th Edition.

Michael Cole shares his advice about what it takes for intercultural integration from an Australian culture to Thai culture, as he explains different expectations and uses of languages with family and friends.

Get an understanding of what the intercultural communication intelligence project (iCom IQ) is all about, how it all started, and why it even exists. Most important is how it is made for you, so that you can start to build your own body of knowledge, participate in discussions, and find your own answers for making your way within and across cultures.