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Etiquette for Globetrottersby Tomas Hansson On entering a country, — Chinese Proverb The art of effective communication goes beyond written and oral communication. The way you say things and the gestures you use can send a message that speaks louder than words. Being aware of how you are saying things is especially important when travelling and conducting business abroad amid unfamiliar customs. Consider the story of an American visiting Tunisia. After asking some strangers for directions to the bus stop, he gave them the "OK" sign (in which the thumb and index finger form an "O") to say he understood. The helpful strangers looked at him with horror and disgust. You see, in Tunisia, this harmless North American gesture is the equivalent of giving someone "the finger." No wonder the people were offended! Similarly, the "victory" sign, unless you get it just right, is also considered rude. To correctly give the victory sign, be sure to form the "V" with your index and middle finger, and your palm facing out. A palm facing in is likely to illicit the same response as the "OK" sign. Other gestures that are innocent enough in North America have dramatically different meanings in other cultures, and vice versa. While travelling in Egypt, I encountered cab drivers who, when I tried to flag them down for a ride, gestured toward me in a way that I thought was rude and offensive (the drivers opened and closed their hand with their finger tips pointing up). I later discovered that they were trying to tell me that they already had a passenger. I learned that in other contexts, such as in a restaurant, this same gesture might mean that the place is full to capacity. The country in which most business travellers get themselves into trouble is Japan. I have heard of a large U.S. computer company that was negotiating a major contract with a Japanese company. When all the details of the contract were ironed out, it was sent to the Japanese company for approval. It came back with only one change: the Japanese company had deleted the name of the department head, who was handling the negotiations and who was to sign the contract, and replaced it with the president's name. Although, from an American point of view, it was appropriate for the contract to be handled by the department head, the Japanese firm, for reasons of prestige, preferred to do business with the highest ranking member of the U.S. company. In Japan, complimenting a skilled co-worker can also be a mistake. As in most Asian cultures, the Japanese culture strives toward uniformity. Therefore, it is considered rude and inappropriate to single out individuals, even if it is well-intentioned. "The protruding nail gets hammered down" as the old saying goes. When travelling in Japan on business, a well-groomed, conservative look for men and women is advisable. Trendy hairstyles, and heavy makeup and jewellery should be avoided. And remember to always treat a meeshi (a business card) with respect; never bend it, write on it, or put it in your back pocket. Doing so is considered a direct insult as the card represents the person's identity. The formality of some cultures sometimes creates stumbling blocks for North Americans. Consider what you would do in the following situation: You are visiting a friend in Germany at a university where he is a professor. At a dinner engagement, you are expected to present him as the next speaker. How would you introduce him? a) "And now over to my old friend,
Peter." If you chose any answer other than b), you might find yourself on a plane back home the following day. The German culture, more than any other culture, thrives on formality; every business activity must follow certain rules. The following information may be helpful when visiting other countries: Australia: Australians generally do not like to talk business during leisure hours and avoid making class distinctions. When riding alone in a taxi, it is considered polite to sit in the front seat with the driver. China: When dealing with business associates in China, remember that the Chinese people place a great deal of emphasis on trust and mutual connections. Always use a person's proper title and expect a slight bow or handshake upon an introduction. England: In general, the English are a reserved people for whom manners are important. A handshake is the most common form of greeting. When visiting, guests bring a gift such as chocolate or flowers. Sending a thank-you note is also considered appropriate. France: The French are very proud of their culture, heritage, and way of life. As such, they expect visitors to have some knowledge and appreciation of the French culture; therefore, foreign visitors should not bring wine as a gift unless they are certain it is of high quality. Hong Kong: When doing business in Hong Kong, showing respect is paramount. You must show respect to gain respect. Trustworthiness is a point of pride; therefore, it is common to apologize when asking for a written contract, even though written contracts are recognized as standard practice. Also, avoid using the colours blue and white in presentation material as they represent death and mourning. Russia: Russians shake hands firmly when they meet. While it is frequently done, pointing with the index finger is considered impolite. Russians enjoy giving and receiving gifts. Guests usually bring the host a gift of flowers, food, or vodka, although this is not expected. Next time you travel, keep these rules of conduct in mind, and most importantly, study the customs and the people of the place to which you are travelling. Otherwise, you may be better off leaving the travel to someone else and limiting your international contacts to e-mail and the telephone. Tomas Hansson is a systems developer with NIVA Inc. Born in the Czech Republic, a citizen of Sweden, and a resident of Canada, he is now on his fourth passport.
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