Novinger begins by explaining how a major proportion of communication within a culture occurs nonverbally through behavior and manners, shared attitudes, common expectations, and so on. Then, using real-life examples and anecdotes, she pinpoints the commonly occurring obstacles to communication that can arise when cultures differ in their communication techniques. She shows how these obstacles come into play in contacts between the U.S. and Mexico and demonstrates that mastering the unspoken rules of Mexican culture is a key to cementing business and social relationships. Novinger concludes with nine effective, reliable principles for successfully communicating across cultures.
A real estate investment professional, Tracy Novinger writes from extensive research and her personal experiences of living and working in cultures as diverse as Aruba and Tahiti. She was born in the Caribbean, studied in Brazilian schools, speaks several languages, has traveled extensively, and has a master's degree in communications.