Confident Business English

295. Disagreeing Without Disconnecting: Cross-Cultural Skills for International Managers (With Lindsay McMahon, All Ears English)

Episode Notes

In this episode, I talk with Lindsay McMahon, CEO and co-host of All Ears English, about how senior managers can disagree more effectively and sensitively in global business settings. We explore cultural differences in communication, key concepts like context and power distance, and practical English phrases you can use to disagree without damaging relationships. Enjoy!
 

Here are the timings:
00:00 – Introduction & why disagreeing well matters for leaders
01:00 – Meet Lindsay McMahon and her global communication insights
02:30 – A real-life story about missing cultural cues
04:30 – Key ideas: high vs. low context cultures and power distance
07:00 – How culture and personality shape disagreement styles
08:00 – Three approaches to disagree in English
08:30 – Style 1: Direct disagreement
10:00 – Style 2: Disagreeing while maintaining relationships
12:00 – Style 3: Delaying or avoiding disagreement
13:30 – Final takeaways: focus on connection, not perfection
14:30 – Where to find All Ears English