WHAT IS CULTURE?

Culture is natural development during birth process {what we call is behavior, that changes from individual to individual broadened when lives in family that family is part of a society (group or community), behavior of the group is culture} and its evolution is based on intelligence reaction to experiences and needs. For example initial stages of humans, behavior were similar to other animals lived in groups. Animals too live in groups (society or community) and their group behavior and practices is their culture. Human intelligence reacted stronger to experiences and needs that widened cultural status. Culture is process to live in group. Each society has norms to follow by individuals in order to retain society strong and intact. Culture is a process for identity of living creatures and cultural evolution raises the identity of society, benefit goes to its individuals. Culture differentiates from group to group (as behavior changes) though major part remains same as human culture to differentiate from other species. This gives different identity. For societys culture there is one individual behind who broadens or establishes the cultural status. Culture developed by beliefs, faith, practices, customs, way to live, art, intelligence, language, food habits, and economy etc; Cultural growth gave identity to the societies that named, Christian or Muslim or Hindu or Jewish or Buddhist etc; have different cultures. So when we come across art, customs etc; we identify what is their culture or which religion they belong. Cultural growth is community growth. Differences of cultures of two societies when clash leads to war and stronger one overpowers the other to establish own culture that way it broadens its culture. An apparent example we have is western culture spread in most parts of the world.

Culture is the way - a refined way - of doing a thing, whether individually or organizationally, which the majority of people in a particular group adhere to. When it pertains to the act of an individual, it is characterized and qualified by categorizing her/him or her/his act as a cultured or an uncultured one. But when it pertains to the act of an organization - howsoever big or small it starts getting characterized and qualified by the behavior of the group constituting the organization and is called organisational culture.

What is communication?

Communication processes are sign-mediated interactions between at least two agents which share a repertoire of signs and semiotic rules. Communication is commonly defined as "the imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing, or signs". Although there is such a thing as oneway communication,communication can be perceived better as a twoway process in which there is an exchange and progression of thoughts, feelings or ideas (energy) towards a mutually accepted goal or direction (information). Communication is a process whereby information is enclosed in a package and is channeled and imparted by a sender to a receiver via some medium. The receiver then decodes the message and gives the sender a feedback. All forms of communicationrequire a sender, a message, and a receiver. Communication requires that all parties have an area of communicative commonality. There are auditory means, such as speech, song, and tone of voice, and there are nonverbal means, such as body language Signlanguage, paralanguage, touch, eye contact through media, eg: pictures, graphics and sound, and writing.

The relationship between the two: When we communicate with others, we get the meanings based on our experience and understanding. We get the experience under our own culture, as a result, when we communicate with people from different cultures, we may misunderstand. For example: Once an American visited a Chinese family, when the visitor saw the hosts wife, he said, Your wife is beautiful, the host smiled and said: Where? Where? ----Which made the American surprised, but he still answered: Eyes, hair, nose---an answer that puzzled the host. The misunderstanding was caused by different cultures. Where? Where? means In Chinese is a kind of humble saying, but the American understood it as which parts of the body. Its a joking, but we can learn that words have different meanings under different cultures. Events like this are common when people of different languages and cultures communicate with each other. Because of cultural differences, misunderstandings may arise, although the language used incommunication may be faultless. The same word or expression may not mean the same thing to different people. There is another example: Head nod. The nod indicates understanding in the United States, but in Japan it means only that the person is listening. Only if we know the different culture, can we understand correctly. Maybe we have such experience: when we are listening to something familiar, no matter what is concerned, we understand easily. Even if there are some new words in the material, we are able to guess the meaning according to its context. However, when we encounter some unfamiliar material or something related to cultural background, we may feel difficult. Even if the material is easy, we just get the general meaning, but cant understand well, because we lack of the knowledge of cultural background. In order to have good communication with another culture

Development OF CONVERSATIONAL SKILLS AT PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LEVEL-

Communication is the key to any personal relationship and your professional relationships are no exception to this rule. There is a great deal of value in working with a person who listens well, processes information and expresses clearly. Since conversation and language are the base means by which we all communicate, having excellent conversation skills is a must for any serious professional, no matter what your field of interest is. The art of conversation is only limited by your imagination. An employee with expert technical skills, expertise and experience is considered valuable, whereas an employee with additional talents in conversation skills is an invaluable asset to the company. It is simply not enough in todays job market to be good at what you do, you must also be able to communicate well with subordinates and authority and possess necessary skills in order to move towards next level within your career track. Your career growth is highly dependent on conversation skills. In fact, a person with less experience and fewer technical skills but who is adept at the art of conversation has a better chance of getting a promotion.

HOW TO DEVELOP BETTER CONVERSATIONAL SKILLS:1. Stop talking. It sounds very simplistic but if you are constantly talking, how can others express themselves? Make an effort to shift the focus of the conversation to the other person. There is more to conversation skills than talking... Be aware of your own body language. Match the other person's body language by leaning forward when they lean

forward, etc. Attention to small details will give the person you are speaking with a feeling that you truly hear what they are saying and that you are genuinely interested in their opinions. This is a secret of good conversation skills.

2. Pay attention to the tone of your voice. Even if you are only giving brief answers or asking short questions the tone of your voice plays a major part in communicating effectively and displaying good conversation skills. If your tone suggests a condescending attitude, boredom, or anger, you will lose your audience and people will no longer want to spend time speaking with you or listening to what you have to say. Superior conversation skills are based on mutual respect. A respectful, preferably friendly tone will allow you to communicate efficiently and earn you the respect of others. 3. In order to move the conversation forward, ask questions to clarify or invite additional information. Questions indicate that you are fully attentive to what

is being said and that you have a real interest in the speaker's views. Give your full attention to the speaker. When you show others that you want to hear them, they will automatically grant you the same courtesy. Do this and your conversation skills will improve. The Importance of Rapport Building

Rapport building skills can be used in any area of your life and on any person, as per Neuro-linguistic courses. Rapport building might be required within your family, for your spouse or children. You can avoid conflicts with your spouse or better understand the thought processes of your child once a good rapport is developed. It is very important in professional life as well, for getting along with superiors, teammates and subordinates. Rapport building is vital to group meetings, discussions or decision-making, where a good rapport can avoid conflicts, misunderstandings and arguments. Using Neuro-linguistic training, you can establish a good rapport with your team leader, or leader of a group.

After a strong rapport is built, you can better express your ideas and viewpoints to the leader, and the leader will be able to understand and acknowledge your efforts and skills

Significance of rapport building in the process of conversationBody position. Copying body position of person you are buildig rapport with is the most important thing you can do. If you don't believe me just go out and look at people in love holding hands or pay attention to your body position while you talk to your best friend. Your hands, legs and torso should be positioned in a way that makes you look like a mirror reflection, of the other person. Tone of voice. Always pay attention, to the tone, speed and deepnes of voice of the person you're talking to. You should try to match the way they are speaking, accenting certain words and all the other speaking mannerisms they have. Wording. The other important thing you have to keep in your mind, is watching out for their favorite words and phrases, ones they use very often. If you will be able to include such stuff into your sentences they will feel like you share the same outlook on life. Emotions. Matching mood of the person you are having interaction with, is natural for most of the people. However if you haven't been doing it, now you have a reason to, it's a superb rapport builder. I Think it's common sense, but presenting opposite emotions to the one of the person you're trying to have a good rapport with, isn't something that will improve your relations.