The Role of Communication in Bridging Cultural Gaps

Strategies for Leadership in Global Organizations

Bibliographic Data

ID21985246
AuthorsZaccheaus Olufunminiyi Olonade (0000-0002-8815-5677, Osun State University), Olubunmi Comfort Ayodele-Akeroro (0009-0002-7185-4436, Osun State University), Abosede Mayowa Adeleke (0009-0002-6308-5083, Osun State University), Oluwatoyin Comfort Adegoke (0009-0008-5906-5446, Osun State University)
Year2026
Volume17
Issue2
Pages67-107
Publication date2026-06-26
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueRoczniki Kulturoznawcze (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2082-8578 • E-ISSN: 2544-5219
PublisherTowarzystwo Naukowe KUL (PUBLISHER • PL)
DOI10.18290/rkult26172.3
OpenAlexW7166825943
LanguageEN
References cited39

In today’s globalized business environment, effective communication serves as a cornerstone for leadership success across culturally diverse organizations. This study investigated the challenges leaders face in communicating across cultural boundaries in global organizations. It presented strategies for overcoming cultural barriers, emphasizing the importance of adaptability, empathy, and cross-cultural competence in leadership communication. Drawing on theories such as Hall’s context theory, Hofstede’s cultural dimensions theory, the cultural intelligence (CQ) model, and the communication accommodation theory, the research highlighted how adaptive, inclusive, and context-sensitive communication fosters mutual understanding among culturally heterogeneous teams. Empirical evidences from cross-cultural leadership and global team studies demonstrated that leaders with high cultural intelligence, emotional sensitivity, and narrative competence that are used to manage diversity problems, leveraged on cultural differences for innovation. The findings revealed that communication is a tool for information exchange and also a method of identity formation, conflict resolution, and organizational cohesion. The study concluded that successful global leadership depends on integrating individual competencies such as CQ and empathy with organizational structures that institutionalize inclusive communication practices

Cornerstone · Cultural diversity · Cultural intelligence · Empathy · Global Leadership · Leadership studies · Narrative · Organizational communication · Shared leadership · Conflict Management and Negotiation · Cultural Competency in Health Care · International Student and Expatriate Challenges

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Open DOIOpen Access