ommunicating effectively is one of the most critical skills in today's business environment—and it's becoming increasingly challenging in today's diverse workplace.

Many business executives who have traveled to Japan can attest to the fact that communication is not universal. A US company executive sees a sea of nodding heads at a meeting and returns to America with high expectations of a deal, only to find that a competing company has been awarded the contract. In these business meetings, nodding has been interpreted to mean agreement rather than simply understanding of the communication process.

"It is estimated that 80% of the people who fail at work do so because of ineffective interpersonal relationships."

But communication misunderstandings aren't just cultural—they can be highly individual. Empirical data, in fact, support varying communication style differences based on gender. Men tend to see conversations as negotiations in which people seek the upper hand in a hierarchical social order. They perceive requests as orders and see the art of talk for information exchange.

Women, on the other hand, tend to view conversation as negotiations for closeness in which people seek to share support and reach consensus. They do not perceive requests as orders, and they view talk as an opportunity for interaction.

The nonverbal aspects of communication also vary greatly and can be barriers to effective interactions. For example, lack of direct eye contact can be misconstrued as a sign of dishonesty, being sneaky, etc. Yet in many Asian cultures, direct eye contact is viewed as a sign of disrespect.

In view of the cultural, individual and gender overtones to communication, let's explore strategies that can help you exchange information successfully.

1. Become a communication chameleon. Don't assume that one communication style will work effectively with a changing workplace. While some people prefer directness in communication, others may prefer more subtlety. Some may believe in a "telling it like it is because honesty is the best policy" scenario, while others prefer courtesy, sensitivity to feelings, and "saving face" to direct confrontation. Knowing with whom you are communicating is important in determining the communication style you'll need.

2. Don't assume you have been understood. When you're communicating with others, test whether information has been transferred accurately. You can do this by simply restating the information and asking the individual to reiterate the instructions. When you're giving feedback to people for whom English may be a second language, you may want to have the person demonstrate his or her understanding by performing the task requested.

3. Avoid hot buttons. Communication shutdowns can occur when you use hot buttons such as referring to a woman as a "gal" or "girl," or when you use offensive expressions such as being the next person "on the totem pole." Other hot buttons include jokes with any reference to ethnicity, race, gender, disability or sexual orientation. Jokes of this nature do not belong in the work environment and are indicative of the discriminatory posture of the organization.

4. Remember that listening is an important part of communicating. Listening is more than just hearing what the other person is saying. Studies have shown that 70% of our waking moments are spent in communication, and as much as 45% of that time is spent listening. Listening requires responding reflectively, restating what you have heard and communicating that you understand. It involves reading the nonverbal cues of the speaker, such as facial expressions, eye contact and body language. Listening attentively is especially critical when accents are involved.

It is estimated that 80% of the people who fail at work do so because of ineffective interpersonal relationships. Remember: Relationships begin with communication, the exchange of information from personality to personality. Look for people within your organization whom you consider to be good communicators, who maintain positive interpersonal relationships—and actively "listen" for their success strategies!