Warming Up to Communicating Globally
Seth Godin's blog refers to this great article on doing business in a global world. Read the advice, and be sure to note the comments – many of which offer more helpful advice.
I think my first cross-cultural faux pas took place in the United Kingdom (note how I didn't say England). I packed my presentation with lots of silly jokes, dumb asides and an opening line that was reminiscent of a very bad Vegas comedy act. I also strutted up and down the aisles, asking questions (note the article's comment advising against this – apparently, audience questions are for those who don't know; presentations are for those who do). When I ended the whole deadly speech, someone remarked, "Well, now we've heard from the American."
These days I learn most of my global communications cues from the students in my night class at University of California, Irvine. They tell me that Americans are way too direct, especially in the e-mails they send. For example, a quick e-mail stating, "Send the order to me by Thursday" is seen as rather boorish and abrupt. And they have said what's confirmed in the article warning against Americans' propensity for "Hey's" and "Hi's" for salutations.
Interestingly, my students tell me the queen of directness, Paris Hilton, is known worldwide (and not just for her eponymous hotel). Isn't that nice to know? Talk about rather boorish. Too bad Americans aren't known for their incredible finesse in gracefully relating to a multitude of cultures. Now, that would be hot.
