Jatinangor – Inna Herlina as a lecturer at the Internationale Akademie für Kommunikation und Geshundeit AKG Berlin, as well as Indohub Berlin Intercultural Communication Consultant as a speaker at a public lecture held by the Public Relations Study Program, Padjadjaran University on April 12, 2023 online via Zoom Meeting with the theme “Challenges of Intercultural Communication in Multinational Companies”.
Inna shared her experience while living in Germany and connecting with German citizens. He also explained that intercultural communication is a process of interaction between groups of people who have different systems of symbolic resources (culture). Culture also influences each other through personal relationships, institutions and situations. Furthermore, Inna explained German culture in more depth, starting from geographical and demographic location, food and drink, sports, art, architecture, traditional dances, language, houses of worship, famous German figures in the past, to political figures who are now leading. Cultural differences between Germany and Indonesia are also explained, especially in the context of business cooperation, such as problem solving orientation, vertical communication between leaders and employees, hierarchy of power within the scope of work, to differences in how to lead a business.
In addition, Inna had the opportunity to open interactive communication with the participants who were present to ask their opinions and experiences regarding the cultural differences in interaction between westerners – in this case Germany – and easterners, namely Indonesia. The majority said the same thing and according to what was explained in the next part of the presentation. One of them is the way of expressing opinions and communicating, Indonesian people are used to being long-winded, small talk, and not focusing on the main points. Meanwhile, for western society, especially Germany, communication, especially in the corporate sphere between leaders and employees, is used to focusing on the problems and main points to be conveyed.
The public lecture was closed with Inna giving do’s and don’ts in communicating with German citizens, including when giving flowers or chocolate gifts it is advisable to give red or white roses, and don’t give Gartennelke flowers because they are a symbol of mourning. Then, etiquette if invited to eat to say thank you the day after being invited. Finally, etiquette at the dinner table is to remain standing before being asked to sit down and start eating by saying “Guten Apetite”.
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Author: Fathia Nuur Fatimah
