Sign Language
ESPN Magazine - What other parts of the globe are we irrevocably alienating with our sporty gestures? |
Talking With Your Hands
National Geographic Magazine - There is no ubiquitous gesture - not even a smile - that can open every door |
Mind The Gap
National Geographic Magazine - There is no ubiquitous gesture - not even a smile - that can open every door |
Bottoms Up!
A few notes on the surprisingly wide variety of drinking customs and toasts around the world |
Dress for Success
Clothes make the man (or woman): some hints on how to make the right sartorial impression in five countries. |
Inside Literary Chile
Chileans pride themselves on their literary tradition. Since the 1920s, Chile has challenged Argentina's place as South America's biggest producer of books in the Spanish language. |
V for Victory
Five North American gestures which foreigners might find confusing |
First Impressions in Business
Starting out on the right foot in a business speech is crucial. But when cultural differences come into play, this can be a real challenge. |
The Business of Gifts
Everyone likes to get gifts, and business associates are no exception. But what gifts are appropriate? |
Blunders and Faux Pas
Being aware of cultural no-nos around the world can greatly contribute to the success of a business trip. |
All Tied Up
Selecting appropriate neckties for business meetings in five parts of the world |
Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands?
Some general guidelines on greetings and terms of address |
Allow Me to Introduce Myself
Some hints on Business Card Usage around the World |
A Rose Is a Rose
Or is it? Some useful hints on giving flowers in business and social situations in four countries. |
Hints for Business in China
Tips on Chinese traditions in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore |
Office Visits in Latin America
Rules for an office visit in Latin America |
Negotiating in Different Cultures
Few of us negotiate global deals from the comfort of home...
But when you are far from the home-field support system, how do you
keep that advantage? |
It's Evident
Executives from different cultures use different criteria for decision-making.
Our respective cultures teach us what is important. Consequently, it
is possible to make predictions on how the average executive from a
specific culture may act. |
Dating Yourself
We have become so accustomed to crossing time zones that it is easy
to forget that the very concept of universal, globe-spanning chronology
is a recent convention. |
Dining Etiquette
For a business traveler, sharing a meal with an international client
is a necessary part of establishing a relationship. And just as each
culture has its own cuisine, it has its own dining etiquette. If you
want to create a good impression when dining abroad, here are some tips. |
Reading in Reverse
All currently-used languages of European origin are read from left to
right. Consequently, natives of societies using European languages tend
to look at everything from left to right, following the flow of their
text. Forgetting that not all the world reads from left to right can
have disastrous efffects. |
Scoring
In the US you can almost always catch a game of American football, baseball,
golf, tennis or basketball on cable. But what about sports abroad? Every
country has some type of "national sport" that they're wild
over. But do you know why they love the game? How they score? That supporting
the wrong team can hurt your career? |
Super-sized Americans Abroad
It is a well-known fact that world obesity levels are highest in the
US, lending to the validity of the stereotype "overfed American."
Overweight and tall Americans quickly find that the infrastructure in
foreign countries for handling larger visitors is often absent. |
Get a Job!
At the start of a new year, many of us assess our physical, emotional
and professional states. If your goals include a new international job,
get ready by testing your knowledge of some of the differences in interviewing
around the world. Good luck! |
Anti-Americanism – Why Don’t They Like Us?
Anti-Americanism has been a hazard to US travelers for decades. Protests,
sometimes violent, have taken place all over the world. Here is a brief
guide for the global traveler on the causes of anti-Americanism in several
countries. |
Trouble in Paradise
Have you ever kept secret a certain fishing hole, or a perfect vacation
spot? We all know what happens when too many people flock to a limited
resource. Prices go up and availability goes down, and if limits aren’t
set, the resource can become depleted and even destroyed. This is the
dilemma many islands in the Caribbean are facing today. |
Merger Rage
Mergers and acquisitions between firms based in different counties experience
an additional challenge... the merger of cultures. |
Lie to Me
What constitutes a lie? Per the dictionary, it’s, "An untrue
statement made with intent to deceive." Most of us don’t need
to be reminded by a lawyer, or by Moses (“Thou shalt not bear false
witness...”), that lying is wrong, but the justification for lies
and their ramifications are different around the world. Here’s
what you need to know. |
What is Stealing?
Many Americans feel that any version of lying, at any time, for any
reason is wrong. However, standards of appropriate conduct can be totally
different outside the US depending upon the circumstances and the people
involved. |
International Trade Shows
When multinational firms consider where to put their global marketing dollars, they may select an international trade show. But since the investment required is so substantial, it's wise to do extensive research to ensure success in each international venue. |
Higher Ground: Meetings with a Purpose
what if you could find an exceedingly well regarded program for your meeting with tremendous long-term benefits to not only your employees, but to others around the world? |
International Gift-giving
Gift-giving is an art. It is an ancient social tradition, and is taken very seriously in many parts of the world. In most places, business relationships are built upon personal relationships, and appropriate gifts are a very important means of cementing those bonds. |
Gestures or Subtle Cues?
Many cultural anthropologists divide countries into low-context and high-context societies. In low-context cultures, information is predominantly communicated verbally or in writing, in an overt, frank manner. But in high-context societies, much information is transmitted non-verbally, with subtle, indirect cues. |
Buying Good PR
You’ve been allocated a new budget for a worldwide publicity campaign. Millions are at your fingertips, and hundreds of millions will see the results of your efforts. But how do you advertise across the globe? Where do you start? |
International Colors & Symbols
Certain colors and symbols can have a tremendous impact in different cultures. Color combinations can be so powerful, they can influence voters and sway elections |
Contracts
You should find a knowledgeable, in-country attorney who can ensure that your contracts are prepared with all the clauses required by their legal systems. |
Gender Matters
Being female means you must carefully orchestrate your business and social activities to protect your credibility. |
Food Faux Pas
Everyone has made a mistake or two at the dining table. Whether you knock over a glass of milk at the age of 4, or use the wrong fork when you’re 40, we all commit food faux pas. |
Conversational Mistakes
Most of us think we know a "Yes" from a "No." But if you’re crossing some multi-lingual lines, even basic communications can take a wrong turn. |
Negotiating Errors
What happens when one culture’s method of selling and negotiating is applied to different international business and social situations? |
Fashion Faux Pas
"Dressing for Success" can vary from country to country. One person’s power suit is another’s poor taste, and none of us want to distract potential clients with our wild attire. |
Doing Business in Latin America
Quite often, a contract in Latin America is based upon the relationship that the two parties develop over the course of time |
Airport Clinics: On the Front Lines
Airport clinics at international airports are on the front line of the war against disease. At international airports, passengers arrive from all around the world, and can be afflicted with diseases most physicians know only from medical textbooks. |
Doing Business in Africa
Africa is a vast, ethnically rich environment full of contrasts and contradictions. Expending the effort to learn about each country independently is well worth your time |
Doing Business in the European Union
On May 1, 2004, 10 new countries joined the European Union. The world’s premier trade block grew from 15 nations to 25. This unprecedented expansion represents both challenges and opportunities to businesspeople from non-EU nations. |
The Relativity of Time
Attitudes about punctuality vary from country to country. |
How's Your Foreign Image?
Mimic local customs to make a good first impression. |
Consumers React To Insults, However Unintentional
Lack of cultural consciousness translates to major marketing mistakes. |
What's in a Name?
Forms of address vary across countries and cultures. |
Eight Days a Week
The world's calendars serve the needs of differing cultures. |
Left to Right Can Be Wrong
Writing patterns differ around the world. |
Cult of Personality
In some countries, popularity means business. |
The Color of Money
Hues can offend or draw attention depending on culture. |
Not-So-Great Expectations
Don't fall for cultural misconceptions. |
Lost In Translation
Words alone can't reveal the complexity of a culture. |
Pandora's Box
Gifts carry hidden meanings in foreign cultures. |
The Feminine Mistake
Women executives need to practice formality, reserve in many cultures. |
Global Business Basics
Accept varying attitudes toward odors and hygiene -- rudeness smells worse. |
'Bite The Wax Tadpole'
And other translation blunders from the annals of bad global marketing |
Business travel can mean daunting dining
'Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you what you are.' |
A language barrier can be breached with skillful interpretation.
'A person who speaks two languages is worth two people.' |
Establishing a social relationship can be vital for business success overseas.
If there's one truism about doing business outside North America and Europe, it is this: People do business with people they like. In most of the world, business and social relationships are interconnected |
The New Year is a good time to review the world's many calendars.
There are many other ways of counting the years besides the Gregorian calendar used in the Western world. |
The Problems of Proxemics
'Personal space' varies from culture to culture. |
Uncommon Stock
Sometimes a foreign market can offer things that a domestic stock exchange can't. |
Unnatural disasters
Preparing for the worst may be the best thing you do for yourself, your employees, and your company's bottom line. |
Good vs. Evil
Stealing, human-rights violations, graft, copyright infringement, discriminatory practices, and industrial espionage. All can land you on a legal stand in the U.S. court system. But in other cultures, any of these might be either commonly accepted behaviors -- or crimes punishable by death. |
Traveler's Tips for Medical Emergencies
What to take, who to contact, and where to find help. |
The Price of Globalization
To be accepted around the world, a company must be a good corporate citizen. |
The Business of Luck
Pacific Rim philosophies can make your work environment more productive and help turn a profit. |
Business and Islam
Understanding cultural differences is especially important during turbulent times. |
Doing Business Abroad - Argentina
Cultural Tips for doing Business Abroad |
Doing Business Abroad - Australia
Cultural Tips for doing Business Abroad |
Doing Business Abroad - Brazil
Cultural Tips for doing Business Abroad |
Doing Business Abroad - Chile
Cultural Tips for doing Business Abroad |
Doing Business Abroad - China
Cultural Tips for doing Business Abroad |
Doing Business Abroad - Costa Rica
Cultural Tips for doing Business Abroad |
Doing Business Abroad - France
Cultural Tips for doing Business Abroad |
Doing Business Abroad - Germany
Cultural Tips for doing Business Abroad |
Doing Business Abroad - Hong Kong
Cultural Tips for doing Business Abroad |
Doing Business Abroad - Ireland
Cultural Tips for doing Business Abroad |
Doing Business Abroad - Israel
Cultural Tips for doing Business Abroad |
Doing Business Abroad - Italy
Cultural Tips for doing Business Abroad |
Doing Business Abroad - Japan
Cultural Tips for doing Business Abroad |
Doing Business Abroad - Malaysia
Cultural Tips for doing Business Abroad |
Doing Business Abroad - Netherlands
Cultural Tips for doing Business Abroad |
Doing Business Abroad - New Zealand
Cultural Tips for doing Business Abroad |
Doing Business Abroad - Saudi Arabia
Cultural Tips for doing Business Abroad |
Doing Business Abroad - South Africa
Cultural Tips for doing Business Abroad |
Doing Business Abroad - Sweden
Cultural Tips for doing Business Abroad |
Doing Business Abroad - Venezuela
Cultural Tips for doing Business Abroad |
Doing Business Abroad - Vietnam
Cultural Tips for doing Business Abroad |
Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands: Doing Business in Argentina
Excerpts from Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands How to Do Business in Sixty Countries |
Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands: Doing Business in Brazil
Excerpts from Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands How to Do Business in Sixty Countries |
Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands: Doing Business in Canada
Excerpts from Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands How to Do Business in Sixty Countries |
Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands: Doing Business in Chile
Excerpts from Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands How to Do Business in Sixty Countries |
Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands: Doing Business in Costa Rica
Excerpts from Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands How to Do Business in Sixty Countries |
Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands: Doing Business in Ecuador
Excerpts from Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands How to Do Business in Sixty Countries |
Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands: Doing Business in England
Excerpts from Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands How to Do Business in Sixty Countries |
Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands: Doing Business in France
Excerpts from Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands How to Do Business in Sixty Countries |
Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands: Doing Business in Germany
Excerpts from Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands How to Do Business in Sixty Countries |
Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands: Doing Business in Italy
Excerpts from Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands How to Do Business in Sixty Countries |
Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands: Doing Business in Japan
Excerpts from Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands How to Do Business in Sixty Countries |
Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands: Doing Business in Mexico
Excerpts from Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands How to Do Business in Sixty Countries |
Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands: Doing Business in Panama
Excerpts from Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands How to Do Business in Sixty Countries |
Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands: Doing Business in Venezuela
Excerpts from Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands How to Do Business in Sixty Countries |