The Power of Pausing: What Cross-Cultural Communication Teaches You

One of the most valuable things I’ve ever learned came from being completely unsure of what to say.

When I was 16, I lived in Chile for a 6 months as an exchange student. It was a crash course in more than just language—it was a crash course in humility, curiosity, and observation. My Spanish wasn’t fluent (especially not in “Chilean”), and I spent a lot of time listening, trying, stumbling, and trying again. That experience planted the seed for a lifelong fascination with language and culture.

Over the years, I studied and picked up English, Spanish, French, and Italian. Each one opened a new window into how people express themselves—what they value, how they connect, and what they leave unsaid. It also gave me a deep respect for how much of communication isn’t about the words at all.

Fast forward to my twenties, I lived and worked in Argentina. I was interning in Buenos Aires, helping bridge communication between nonprofits, small organizations, and government agencies (see the blog post about that here!). Even with solid Spanish, I still found myself often just a beat behind in conversations—learning to keep pace with local slang, tone, and nuance.

And in that space between knowing and not knowing, I learned how powerful it is to communicate with curiosity instead of certainty.

That lesson has stuck with me, and I’ve carried it into everything I do—especially in consulting.

Cross-cultural communication isn’t just about language. It’s about context. Assumptions. Body language. Power dynamics. Humor. Timing. What’s considered “efficient” in one culture might feel cold in another. What’s seen as “respectful” in one group might be overly formal or even off-putting in another. When we bring our full selves to work (which we should), we also bring our cultural frameworks—and they don’t always match.

So much of good consulting—and honestly, good leadership—is about noticing those differences and adjusting without judgment.

It means slowing down. Asking instead of assuming. Leaving space for someone to explain where they’re coming from. It means holding back the urge to immediately fix or streamline or reword—and instead listening closely for what’s being meant, not just what’s being said.

Cross-cultural communication taught me that clarity isn’t just about talking louder or simplifying language. It’s about creating mutual understanding, even when we start in different places.

And honestly? That kind of communication is better for everyone—no passport required.