Many times I’ve felt the urge to give a salesperson a piece of my mind after some obnoxious communication habit, insensitive comment, or ineffective process. But then I need my mind—all of it—so I typically refrain. But the high performers stand out from the crowd because they’ve mastered “the little things” that the bottom-half on [...]
In various cultures, all the following gestures can mean yes: a raised head and chin, a nod forward, rocking the head from shoulder to shoulder four times, wagging the head from side to side, a backward nod with raised eyebrows, or a smile. Noes may be communicated by a finger wagging from side to side, [...]
I’m speaking literally here. People from different cultures require more or less physical space to feel comfortable. If you stand too close to them, you may violate their sense of personal space; if you stand too far away when interacting with them, you may create unnecessary emotional distance. In general, Americans feel most comfortable interacting [...]
Making a circle with the thumb and forefinger means “OK” or zero in the United States; however, it conveys zero or worthlessness in France, money in Japan, and an obscenity in Russia and some South American cultures. A pointed finger, which is perfectly acceptable to Americans, is considered rude by Asians, Africans, and Belgians. Remembering [...]
If you’re trying to make either a serious or a humorous point, verify that your illustration does in fact make your point. For example, if you tell a story describing an “absent-minded” professor, you may intend the professor to be the butt of the joke, while your listener may revere the professor because of his [...]
The mark of a well-traveled person or a seasoned tour guide is her ability to understand idioms and colloquialisms in a foreign language. Some years ago, we vacationed in Mexico, and we hired a driver for a few days to show us the places of historical significance that we’d missed on earlier trips on our [...]
People in some cultures stand close and feel offended when those of other cultures pull away; other talkers keep a comfortable distance and feel invaded when colleagues come too close. Touching is taboo in some cultures (British, Canadian, Australian, German, Japanese, Asian, Indonesian, Indian, and Pakistani) and welcomed in others (Spanish, Italian, French, Greek, Russian, [...]
Understand how the people you’re visiting interpret silence. For example, the Japanese feel comfortable with silence and discreetness, particularly with confidential information. They particularly admire someone who gives careful thought before answering questions or making a point. Americans cover silences as if they are unwelcome and unwarranted. They admire fluent speakers who move quickly from [...]
Anglos stand up to show respect, Fiji Islanders sit down to show respect, and Japanese bow to show respect. Some people raise their faces and their eyes to show respect; others lower their faces and their eyes for the same reason. Some people shake hands to show respect; others refrain from doing so to show [...]
Gift giving serves different functions in different cultures. In most business settings in the United States, gift giving has become a taboo—an ethical concern and even cause for legal action. In other cultures, gift giving opens the door for business relationships. In still other cultures, gifts express appreciation for an ongoing relationship. In India, the [...]
