Summary
The Culture Map by Erin Meyer explains how national cultures differ across key dimensions—communication, leadership, trust, decision-making, and time. It shows how misunderstandings arise in global teams and offers practical frameworks to adapt behavior, bridge cultural gaps, and collaborate more effectively across borders.
Ratings
Readability
Practicality
Credibility
Depth
Impact
Quote
When interacting with someone from another culture, try to watch more, listen more, and speak less.
Learnings
- High-context vs. low-context communication: Some cultures communicate implicitly (e.g. Japan), while others are very explicit and direct (e.g., Germany).
- Direct feedback isn’t universal: What feels “honest” in one culture may feel rude or confusing in another; feedback styles range from blunt to very indirect.
- Decision-making speed is cultural: Some cultures decide top-down and fast; others seek broad consensus, which takes longer but increases buy-in.
Review
The Culture Map is an eye-opening, practical guide to navigating cultural differences at work. Erin Meyer translates complex cross-cultural dynamics into clear frameworks and real examples. It sharpened my awareness, improved my communication and helped me avoid costly misunderstandings in global teams.
Audience
- International Managers: People leading multicultural or global teams who need to understand how communication, hierarchy, trust and decision-making differ across cultures.
- Global Team Members: Professionals working with colleagues, clients, or partners from other countries who want to avoid misunderstandings and collaborate more effectively.
- HR and L&D: Those responsible for leadership development, onboarding and cross-cultural training in international organizations.
Details*
Pages
288
ISBN
978-1610392761
Publisher
PublicAffairs
Price
14.99
€