Pointing is a no-no in China, Japan, Indonesia, and Latin America, and beckoning someone with a curled index finger "goes against the grain" in Slovakia, China, South East Asia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines. For example, across the Middle East, it is seen as offensive to eat or offer gifts with the left hand, and a "thumbs up" gesture is also considered rude.Ĭircling your index finger and thumb in an "A-OK" sign is frowned upon in Brazil, Germany and Russia, where it represents a part of the human body. Everyday gestures that you use at home may have very different meanings abroad. Here are some examples of body language to be aware of: So, while there are some general behaviors to be aware of, not every breach of etiquette will cause deep offense. When you are dealing with people from different cultures, you should both understand that perceived insults are often entirely unintentional. See our article on Avoiding Cross-Cultural Faux Pas to understand key pitfalls to avoid, and you can drill down deeper into issues with our articles on clothing and food faux pas.
Conversely, getting it wrong can cause offense and misunderstanding that could, in extreme cases, lose you business or damage important relationships. Showing respect for other cultures is also good business practice.ĭeveloping Cultural Intelligence will improve your working relationships and potentially make you more successful. This makes it important for you to understand cultural differences, for example, in clothing, food, communication, and body language. Even if you work solely in your home country, you may have clients, colleagues, contractors, or suppliers from elsewhere. You may work directly with people from different cultures and backgrounds. In today's global business environment, you will likely visit foreign countries or build working relationships overseas. And we look at some of the faux pas you should avoid when working around the world. In this article, we'll discuss why it's important to be aware of the different meanings body language has in different countries and cultures. Unfortunately, in some parts of the country, a nod can mean you disagree with him! You could be discussing a potential collaboration with an organization in Bulgaria, and you nod your head in approval of what your host is proposing. If your meeting was in the Middle East, Greece or Japan, you've just committed at least one, and perhaps two, serious cultural faux pas. You sit back, smile, casually hook one leg over the other, and give your new client a cheery thumbs up. You feel the meeting has gone really well.
Crossed legs can cross the line in some cultures.
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