b'Communication Styles Can ImpactYourInteractionswithCampersEditors note: This article was provided Imperial Family many years ago, Yashkova here and take good care of your family. Wethrough a partnership between Woodalls noted. He has also traveled to around 135 also explained that we had several familiesCampground Magazine and the National As- countries and worked in about 20 of them. around them with small children and they im-sociation of RV Parks and Campgrounds.Based on his experience with different cul- mediately understood, so we settled them intures, Lewis identified three types of cultural within about 15 minutes. The next day, theyIrina Yashkova, who co-owns National As- classifications, each with unique characteris- invited us to share dinner they cooked on thesociationofRVParksandCampgrounds tics and offered insights into how to work with grill and said we were the best campground(ARVC) member-park Seahaven Marine RV each group: for them.Park in Sneads Ferry, N.C., with her husband Linear-active: Theseindividualsare ReactiveKal Karmous, has quite a fascinating back- task-oriented, very organized and prefer to do Whenyouhavereactivepeoplewhoground. one thing at a time. This group comprises come and stay with you, theyll never say aShe was born in Siberia, has worked for much of the English-speaking world. word. Theyll never complain and then youNASA for more than 20 years as a profes- Multi-active: Thisgrouplikestodo find out on the online review that they weresional simultaneous interpreter, liaison and many things at one time. Family, relationships Irina Yashkova co-owns the Seahaven extremely unhappy because thats how theycultural adviser for the International Space and people, in general, are very important to Marine RV Park in Sneads Ferry, N.C. communicate, Yashkova noted. They wereStation and is an expert and trainer in cross- them. Individuals from Latin America, South- not able to come and confront you. We createcultural communications. ern Europe, Mediterranean countries, sub-Sa- husband, who is an engineer, spent 45 min- opportunities for people like that to comment,I think that as campground owners we haranAfrica,theMiddleEast,Indiaand utes discussing different specifications with in private, if there is anything we can do toneed to be very adaptable and develop an Pakistan often fall within this category. him. In the end, he said we were the best RV make their experience better.awareness of different styles of communi-Reactive:Seeking harmony and not los- park he had ever contacted. He was ex- Recent research published in the Harvardcation and listening, she said. Cross-cul- ing face is extremely important to these indi- tremely satisfied and Im sure hell be a repeat Business Reviewhas shown that mirroring thetural communications are not just about viduals who often come from major countries customer because we spoke his language. communication style of your counterpart cancultures in terms of what countries people in Asia. They are good listeners who rarely Multi-active double your chance of success. are coming from. Its also about the culture initiate action or discussion, preferring to hear Yashkova also shared a story about how As campground owners and managers,of how people operate and how they per- the other persons position, then forming their they resolved an issue with a multi-active weneedtospeakthelanguageofourceive the world. own opinion. group by appealing to what was important to guests, Yashkova said. We need to openYashkova is a certified trainer in The Lewis Yashkova shared examples of how it can them. our eyes to the way we communicate; theModel, which is designed to help clients bet- be helpful to understand a guests cultural We once had a large family group who way were perceived by others and the resultster understand culture, starting with their own, classification type when working with them. came after hours around 10 p.m. There were we want to achieve together.then apply what they have learned to improve Linear-active probably about 12 of them and they were The key is:their business relationships. Course partici- We had a gentleman who was booking a loud. If I had come to them and said, YoureKnow yourself.pants usually start by taking an online per- site. He was a first-time RVer and he called breaking the rules of our quiet hours, thatEnter the world of those you need to in-sonalculturalself-assessment,called us six times. He was asking Whats the di- would not have gone well with them, because fluence.CultureActive and get debriefed on this during ameter of the hoses? Whats the water line family was important to them, she explained.Act on that knowledge and adapt.the session. like? How do I orient myself? We recognized They had people driving for two hours and If youd like to find out more about TheThe Lewis Model was created by Richard that he was not doing this to irritate us or they wanted to make sure they arrived safely LewisModel,CultureActiveandtraining Lewis, who is a cross-culturalist based in waste our time. He was perceiving the world and would be well taken care of. So, we rec- programs,youcancontactIrinaatEngland and a personal tutor to the Japanese in linear-active terms, she explained. My ognized that and said, Well take over from iyashkova@hotmail.com or 713-870-0398. WCM12 June 2021 Woodalls Campground Magazine'