The cultural impact
Why won't they reply to your emails?
It could be that they are just busy—long delays before responses are not uncommon in the Canadian workplace.
Or it could be that your writing style doesn't work for them.
This isn't necessarily about your language skills.
You can have excellent grammar and vocabulary and still write emails that aren't effective in another culture.
Think of it as "Email culture."
Culture affects what writing styles we perceive as good, which extends to what we perceive as good communication.
Here is an exercise I created for a recent workshop for Japanese looking for work in Canada.
It focuses on writing style differences in Canada and Japan, which are quite significant in terms of how information is presented and organized.
Free coaching call opportunity
To make this fun and interactive, I'm going to give all of you newsletter subscribers an opportunity to test your Canadian cultural awareness.
The first three readers to answer correctly and list reasons for their answers will win a free 30-minute coaching call with me.
All you have to do is go through the exercise below and fill out the form at the end of this post.
Update: The form is now closed, but you can still give it some thought. The answers will be shared to newsletter subscribers only.
Situation
Tomomi works in a Canadian company. Kelly, who is Tomomi’s manager, has asked Tomomi if an upcoming meeting should be postponed.
Below are two possible email responses Tomomi could write. Read the two emails and answer these questions:
- Which email do you think is the better response? Why?
- Which email do you think would be preferred in a Canadian workplace? Why?
Email 1
Subject: Suggestion to postpone the upcoming meeting
Dear Kelly,
I hope this message finds you well. After careful consideration, I believe it might be beneficial for us to consider postponing it to a later date. Here are three key reasons for my suggestion:
- Preparation Time: Postponing the meeting would ensure that our team has enough time to complete our work and provide more comprehensive updates during the meeting.
- Availability of Key Participants: I understand that a few of the key division managers are currently unavailable. Rescheduling would give them an opportunity to participate.
- Alignment with Recent Developments: Given the recent developments in the market, having a little more time to analyze them would make our discussions and decision-making more effective.
Of course, I am open to discussing this further and will support whatever decision is made.
Best regards,
Tomomi
Email 2
Subject: Regarding the consideration to postpone the upcoming meeting
Dear Kelly,
I hope this message finds you well. As we are approaching the date scheduled for our upcoming meeting on Monday, I have taken the liberty to review the preparatory status and overall context surrounding this important gathering. It is from this careful review that I wish to share some observations and a suggestion for your consideration.
Firstly, it has come to my attention that the completion of the report, which forms a crucial part of our agenda, is still underway. The team is dedicatedly working towards finalizing this work, which is pivotal for enriching our discussions with precise and valuable insights.
Secondly, the availability of key participants, including the division managers, poses a significant concern. Their insights are indispensable to the core discussions planned; however, current commitments have them engaged elsewhere, impacting their ability to attend the upcoming meeting.
Lastly, recent developments in the market have emerged, presenting us with new information that could significantly influence our strategic deliberations. A thorough analysis and understanding of these developments are essential to ensure our discussions are informed and effective.
Given these observations, I suggest the possibility of postponing the meeting to a later date. This suggestion is made with the hope that additional preparation time will allow for a more comprehensive and inclusive discussion, ensuring that all relevant parties can participate meaningfully and that we can adapt our strategies to the latest information and developments.
Of course, I am open to discussing this further and will support whatever decision is made.
Thank you for considering my suggestion. I am looking forward to your feedback.
Best regards,
Tomomi
Now it's your turn
Now that you have read both emails, it's time for you to choose which one you think is better.
Just fill out the form below and submit it.
The first three readers to answer correctly and list reasons for their answers will win a free 30-minute coaching call with me.
The deadline is Friday, May 17th at 6:00 p.m ET.
The answer will be shared in the next newsletter, scheduled for Monday, May 27th.
Good luck! I'm looking forward to reading your answers and choosing three winners!
Update: The contest is now closed, but you can see the answers if you subscribe to the Hiyaku Coaching newsletter. Just fill out the subscription form below before Monday, May 27th.