Before any open forum, write the 10 hardest expected questions and answer them in writing — never improvise live.

In some cultures "yes" means "I heard", not "I agree" — ask explicitly.

Before asking a high-context colleague for something, reshape your direct ask into a polite hint.

Before reading a colleague's silence in a meeting, ask: is it thinking, respect, or deferred refusal?

Two weeks after any big announcement, return to the team with "what we heard from you, and what we did about it" — don't let questions evaporate unanswered.