Sydney Jones '24 RGLP Reflection

Being adaptable is the essence of intercultural communication. To be adaptable, there are a variety of things to remember. For example, when meeting new people from a different culture, it is important to take into account some of the tools RGLP taught us. Communication, planning, knowledge and curiosity are the main tools RGLP has taught me this term. When communicating with anyone, a person must be adaptable in order to listen to the other person and react accordingly. Communication is often non-verbal, though, so a person must be able to read the other person's body language and either give space or stand closer depending on the situation.

Planning is another one that may not seem like a tool that could use adaptability, though, it is incredibly important. When approaching new cultural experiences, it is important to plan out how to appropriately act or interact with others. However, sometimes our planning is off and it is important to be curious and learn from the situation. Planning is important, but it is even more important to know when to adapt your plan to the situation. In knowledge and curiosity I see the most use of adaptability. Our knowledge is constantly expanding and each new cultural interaction allows us to learn even if it is something small. We adapt our knowledge by experiencing new things. To experience these new environments, we have to be constantly curious.

Another important lesson RGLP taught me was how cross-cultural experiences can assist in our toleration of ambiguity. In my opinion, being in a situation where you feel unprepared to communicate effectively, ambiguity becomes your best friend. There are universal rules to communication, in my opinion, that ambiguity leads us to. An understanding of body language, looking for cues, and taking a step back to listen are some important tools RGLP unconsciously

brought to light for me. Having these tools at your disposal allow you to "read the room" even when you feel unprepared to communicate effectively. Consider a workplace where you must meet new clients everyday and have no way to research them beforehand. In these situations, you want to remain respectful of cultural differences and effectively communicate with your client.

To do this, you must read the body language of your client and reciprocate it to a certain extent. You must also look for cues from your client, holding back when they seem overwhelmed or being more casual if they relax their tone. Most importantly, though, it is important to listen to your client and find a way to communicate through remaining curious of their ways. Asking questions should always feel safe in order for communication to happen. Though the explicit tools at RGLP are incredibly useful, the foundation for their usefulness rests on these universal communication tools. It is important to recognize that learning never stops and RGLP reminds us to stay curious!