ChatGPT’s New Horizons: Mastering Cultural Diversity
“High context” and “low context” communication styles refer to the way in which people from different cultures communicate with one another.
According to Erin Meyer, author of “The Culture Map”, high context cultures have a long shared history and a common understanding between people. They use nonverbal cues and communicate in a way that allows them to understand one another without being explicit. Examples of high context cultures include Japan, China, and France.
People from high context cultures place a strong emphasis on preserving relationships and are bound by a complex set of rules, definitions, and expectations around what is offensive and what is not. These cultures tend to be restrictive in nature, and following these rules is seen as a sign of respect, harmony, and trust.
Low context cultures, on the other hand, tend to be younger nations and often have a multicultural history. In these cultures, communication is more explicit and precise in order to facilitate understanding between different groups of people.
For ChatGPT, which is developed in the U.S., a low context culture, users from high context cultures not only face the problem of having to bridge this communication style barrier, but also face the issue of having to understand the American culture of freedom of speech, individualism, and self-assurance.
Therefore, one must develop strategies to deal with these problems and fully understand how to communicate with the chatbot in order to maximize its effectiveness:
1. Be precise in communication and language
This means using as many words as necessary to convey your message, as the chatbot may not understand the nuances of high context communication.
2. See ChatGPT’s responses as suggestions, not answers
This means being prepared to correct, refine, debate, and negotiate with the chatbot until you get the answers you want. In many parts of Asia, it can be seen as rude or offensive to ask too many questions or seek too many clarifications.
3. See your input to ChatGPT as authoritative commands
Do not be shy about giving clear, commanding prompts, as the chatbot will not understand or obey your requests if they are not presented in an authoritative manner.
4. See ChatGPT as a trustworthy friend
Assume the best intentions of the chatbot, and trust its capabilities. Trust yourself to give it the right prompts in order to get the best results.
5. Try using the improvisation principle of “yes, and”
This principle does not mean blindly accepting the chatbot’s response, but it does mean accepting it and forming an opinion about it. It is important to first accept the response instead of rejecting or dismissing it.
6. Enjoy the process
You may experience some frustration while working with ChatGPT, but it’s important to remember to be patient and kind to yourself, as with any new tool. With practice, you will improve your ability to work with it.
(This content was created with the assistance of ChatGPT.)
