Input in the form of opinions, agreements, disagreements, and feedback needs to take place within any work setting. Examples include meetings/conference calls, negotiations, having discussions with your colleagues, or taking part in performance reviews.
Providing input can become more complicated when cultural differences play a part in interactions:
- Individualists may assert their rights to provide input, and to demonstrate their abilities or achievements, while collectivists may not feel the need to provide individual input, as it may create conflict and undermine the harmony of the group.
- In high-power distance settings, input usually comes from those in senior positions, and junior members of staff may rarely provide input. In low-power distance settings, input is considered a way to demonstrate democratic processes, equality, and fairness.
- Universalists may provide input in the form of tasks, details, and objective data, while particularists may see input as an opportunity to get to know others, or to focus on process.
- Direct/low-context communicators may provide succinct, and to-the-point information, while indirect/high-context communicators may provide background, stories, and of course, context as their means of providing input.