Cross Cultural Etiquette

We’re all different from one another and come from a dizzying array of backgrounds and cultures. And while sometimes the rules and etiquette of a friend’s family makes sense, that’s not always the case. Readers will learn how to make others comfortable and make themselves comfortable with respect, an open mind, and kindness. This practical book offers options for navigating an array of tricky situations, such as when to take off your shoes, how to politely decline an offer of food, and what to wear to a formal event in a different culture.

“A rich smorgasbord of cultural information full of surprising and helpful revelations” (Roger Axtell, author of Do’s and Taboos Around the World). Your friend’s mother-in-law is visiting from Korea. When greeting her, do you bow, shake hands, or kiss her on both cheeks? The meeting with his international customers is going well for the corporate president—until he gives the thumbs-up sign. Why? You welcome your new neighbors with a bouquet of your prizewinning daffodils. Yet your beautiful yellow blossoms are met with looks of shock and horror. Why? Discover the answers in this incisive, award-winning guide to etiquette, now thoroughly revised to reflect today’s truly multicultural society. Both highly informative and entertaining, Multicultural Manners gives you the understanding you need, the perfect words to say, and the correct behavior to use in a wide range of cross-cultural situations. The book features completely updated etiquette guidelines with special emphasis on post–September 11 culture clashes as well as a brand-new section that demystifies unfamiliar cultures in the news. Norine Dresser identifies key cross-cultural hot spots and suggests methods that foster respect for diversity. You’ll discover: The dos and don’ts of successful business and social interaction with people from different cultures Appropriate etiquette regarding body language, food, child rearing, clothing, word choices, colors, entertaining, romance, and gift giving Detailed tips on avoiding embarrassment at work, in the classroom, in health care settings, on business trips, at meals, at weddings, at funerals, and on vacations and holidays Amusing firsthand accounts of cultural gaffes that illustrate how miscues happen—and how to avoid them A breakdown of customs, religions, languages, and ethnicities for seventy different countries

We’re all different from one another and come from a dizzying array of backgrounds and cultures. And while sometimes the rules and etiquette of a friend’s family makes sense, that’s not always the case. Readers will learn how to make others comfortable and make themselves comfortable with respect, an open mind, and kindness. This practical book offers options for navigating an array of tricky situations, such as when to take off your shoes, how to politely decline an offer of food, and what to wear to a formal event in a different culture.

Inhaltsangabe:Introduction: We are living in an internationalized world; global trade keeps increasing and more companies from many countries around the world are going national at an astounding rate. This is a reflection of strong economic growth around the world and the globalization of the economy and corporations. Offices are spread from one continent to another and travel is essential to business. This is the reason why business travel is increasing, states Hubert Joly, president and chief executive officer of CWT. In today s business world, you might well find yourself as an international manager in a foreign subsidiary of an American firm, facing on a daily basis all aspects of international management. Or you could end up at the home office in Germany coordinating operations with foreign affiliates. Or you could travel to countries like Japan or China, negotiating export sales or dealing with suppliers, customers, or franchise parties. Many different kinds of positions are available in the global arena, and training in international and cross-cultural management and negotiation styles is becoming a critical ingredient in moving up to high-level positions in global organizations. In 2006, a record 30.1 million U.S. travelers visited overseas markets, an increase of five percent from 2005. One of the top five overseas markets visited by U.S. travelers in 2006 was Germany. China (if combining travel the PRC and Hong Kong) would have tied as second. Contributing to the new record for outbound travel, seven of the top 20 U.S. outbound destination markets posted records in 2006, including Japan and China. Hundreds of thousands of jobs in the Germany owe their existence and sustainment to business travel. In Germany, the effects of a growing European Union and worldwide business travel create a stable demand for modern transport infrastructures and services. The USA is one of the two most important business travel destinations for the German economy, closely followed by China. Two markets will dominate travel interests in the future: the USA and China. No other countries will be as important for business trips as these two different giants. China's economy still enjoys a huge growing potential although its gross domestic product (GDP) has maintained a double-digit growth for four straight years and hit a new high of 10.7 in the first three quarters of 2006. The growth rate of China's labor productivity stood at 9.5 percent last year, [...]

This book provides the invaluable intercultural knowledge to help you make a deal, sell your product, or find a joint venture, no matter where your business takes you. Business people who work internationally or work with people who are international need to know how to act before they can get the business—and keep it. Proper business communication includes everything from emails to eye contact, and the rules of what is "right" in other countries can be daunting to navigate. Global Business Etiquette: A Guide to International Communication and Customs, Second Edition provides critical information that businesspeople—both for men and women—need to understand the dynamics of cross-cultural communication, avoid embarrassing and costly gaffes, and succeed in business outside of the United States. Topics covered in this indispensible resource include conversation topics that are considered appropriate for different situations; how to make a positive good impression; dress and travel; attitudes toward religion, education, status, and social class; and cultural variations in public behavior. Information is provided about the United States at the end of each chapter about the ten countries that Americans do the most business with to benefit international readers.

The theme of this new edition of Cross-Cultural Business Behavior is CHANGE. First of all, cultures change. In markets around the world, business behavior is constantly evolving, impelled by generational shifts, improvements in education, and (especially) increasing exposure to the world marketplace. That is why all of the book's 43 'Negotiator Profiles' have been thoroughly updated, with new cases and fresh examples added. In addition to the change in culture, international managers' challenges have changed too. For example, just a few years ago, participants at global management seminars around the world were mainly interested in how to communicate and negotiate with overseas partners. But, they now find that their toughest challenges are how to manage overseas subsidiaries, strategic alliances, and international partnerships. To reflect these new realities, the book's time-tested framework for understanding cross-cultural negotiating behavior has been expanded to include a wide variety of practical pointers on managing in today's global marketplace. This fifth edition is important for everyone involved with global management, whether student or manager, because cultures and business challenges do change. The book is an essential survival guide for doing business in cultures other than one's own.

Thrive in the multicultural communities where you work and live People, money, and information are flowing faster than ever across international borders, putting us all just one step away from a culture crash—that moment when you unintentionally confuse, frustrate, or offend someone from another culture. Are you struggling with trying to learn the customs, nuances, and hot buttons of every culture you might come into contact with? Michael Landers guides you toward a better solution: becoming aware of your own cultural “baggage.” You'll learn to sidestep the knee-jerk reactions that can get you into trouble and develop the agility to adjust your behaviors and expectations as needed. Through a mix of entertaining and instructive stories, valuable insights, and eye-opening self-assessments, Culture Crossing offers an essential primer for improving all your interactions with people from any background.