While recently visiting a tourist site in Asheville, I happened to meet a man from Nepal. We got to chatting, and I mentioned that I had a friend who went to work in Nepal after working with me in Japan. He laughed and said when he was young he worked as a sherpa in the tourist camps, and the Japanese groups were some of the most difficult to lead because, while very polite, they were indirect about expressing their needs and wouldn’t even make much eye contact, making it hard to judge how they were handling the climb.
That reminded me of another incident in Japan, when I was applying for a job. I was accidently cc’d on an e-mail chain discussion by the hiring committee where I saw they were selecting me not for having the best resume or even the best Japanese ability, but because I seemed to fit the most easily into the Japanese office culture.
Though exact numbers vary, almost every study confirms that over half of communication is non-verbal. In cultures with very different communication styles, this can lead to issues in numerous situations. Even if an assignee is fluent in the language, if they aren’t fluent in the culture norms, gestures, and indirect communication styles of the host culture, it could leave a poor impression.
Even something considered unremarkable in one culture, such as leaving hands in one’s pockets, can start a meeting on an awkward note if those you are meeting are from a culture that finds the gesture overly casual or rude.
To prepare assignees, Living Abroad pays special attention to these nuances in our country reports and also in our cultural learning platform – Culture Coach Online. Sections on greetings, gestures, and personal conduct cover social interaction and details such as how much eye contact is appropriate, or whether men should offer to shake women’s hands or merely nod.
Granted, most international businesspeople are savvy enough to recognize that visiting assignees may have their own cultural habits. But educating assignees on the host culture’s social environment and relaying the knowledge required to act respectfully creates an immediate atmosphere of trust that is an advantage in any situation.
This leads to smoother transactions, more comfortable meetings, and more profitable assignments for everyone involved. It can even lead to being selected for opportunities- not because of any hard skills, but because of the vital soft power of making others feel understood by acknowledging their cultural values.
P.S. Did you know the answers to Xavier’s quiz? In Brazil, France, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Uruguay the thumbs-up gesture has positive connotations, but in Argentina, Australia, Egypt, Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain, and Sierra Leone, it can be seen as offensive.
Written by Kate Havas, GMS-T, Content Manager
