Cultural Quick Tips
Gift Giving
Gift-giving across cultures takes a blend of sensitivity, research and personal knowledge. It is always best to research specific cultural gift-giving practices so that you don't send the wrong signal by mistake. For example, the gift of a desk set that includes a letter opener to a Chinese colleague symbolizes the severing of the friendship, a bottle of wine is inappropriate for any Muslim friends because they don't drink alcohol and Guatemalans only give white flowers for funerals. In many cultures, the presentation of a gift is just as important as what the gift is, so research the best time or situation to present your gift. Everyone loves getting presents, so make sure that you're sending the right message to accompany your gift.
Seasons Greetings
During the holiday season, it is tradition to offer seasons greetings to friends and colleagues. As the United States becomes more diverse, we increase our sensitivity to the meaning behind our holiday greetings. When you know a person's faith, it is appropriate to offer them a greeting for the particular holiday that they celebrate; "Merry Christmas" for Christians, "Chag Sameach" (which means "happy holiday" in Hebrew) for those celebrating Chanukah, and Happy Kwanzaa for African Americans celebrating Kwanzaa. If you are unfamiliar with a person's faith, wishing them a Happy Holiday is an appropriate gesture that withholds any assumptions pertaining to their faith or religious practices.
Houses of Worship
Though America may be a predominately Christian culture, with our increasingly diverse society, it is important to understand how our language pertaining to religion impacts people of other faiths. For example if you ask someone, "Where do you go to church?", we imply that not only is this person religious, but, more specifically, Christian. Try to use religion-neutral language like, "What is your faith?" This question openly provides the person with the opportunity to share their spiritual orientation. Different faiths call their houses of worship by different names. Jews attend synagogue, Muslims go to a mosque, Hindus pray (and sometimes live) in temples, and for Buddhists, use either temple or shrine. Some faiths (such as the Unitarian Universalists) may use "church", "meeting house" or "congregation" depending on certain aspects of the individual's faith. Promote acceptance across religions and faiths by using correct terminology.
Exploring Diversity Terms
As language evolves over time, so does the language of diversity. In a multicultural workplace, it is important for people to understand differences in terminology. For example, the US Census Bureau now uses the phrase "Black /African American" as a category. Now people completing the census can choose "black" as a racial category though they have no connection to the phrase "African American" which carries an ethnic meaning of its own. An immigrant from Somalia could be black racially, but find no identification with the term African American. Listen to the terms people use to refer to themselves. When in doubt, ask what terms a person uses to describe their racial/ethnic affiliation. You should be willing to discuss a description of your own racial/ethnic affiliation as well. When working in a cross-cultural environment, remember to choose your words carefully.
The Art of Saying No
In the U.S., we typically say "no" if we are unable to comply with a request or deadline, a very direct conversation style. But for many cultures, saying "no" in a direct manner is inappropriate in a social setting. In Japan, instead of saying "no", it may be more appropriate to say, "That would be difficult." In Honduras, "we will see" is a better reply than saying "no" directly. People from other cultures may attempt to understand the nuances of what is being said and what is being implied indirectly. When crossing cultures, these nuances are often missed. When interacting with Americans, foreigners may learn our direct conversational style, but will typically adhere to their own style of communication (which is often more indirect) when answering an American. When you communicate across cultures, remember that people may not say "no" directly, so you may need to listen for other clues that might tell you what they are really trying to say.
Comfort Foods Around the World
Mention "comfort food" and certain images will immediately begin to come into focus. Food takes on certain meaning based on particular cultural and family backgrounds. For Americans, comfort food might include ice cream, macaroni and cheese or chicken noodle soup. Vietnamese comfort food could entail a rice noodle soup called Pho. The Scottish may find comfort in a bowl of oatmeal and clotted cream, Swiss nationals, in a bar of chocolate or, if you are from the Caribbean, fried plantains might be the meal of choice. Conduct your own survey of what comfort food means to the people surrounding you. You might be surprised at the differences and even more so at the similarities.
Happy Birthday!
Birthday celebrations vary around the world and are a great way to gain a glimpse into another culture. In Greece, where most people are named after a Greek saint, people share sweets with friends who come to visit typically on the nameday for their saint instead of on their birthday. Among cultures that follow a lunar calendar, turning 60 signifies the completion of one complete lunar cycle and it is a time of rebirth and the mark of transition into old age. Some cultures may not celebrate particular birthdays - the Chinese don't celebrate the fortieth birthday because of the death connotations connected to the sound of four. In Argentina children receive pulls on the earlobe for their birthday. Traditionally, they get one pull for each year of their life. With the birth of spring around us, share your family traditions and inquire about other ceremonies. You may find something you want to add onto your own.
Greetings Across Cultures
Greetings from around the world vary just as much as the cultures of which they are a part. For example, in Asia, very little body contact is made between strangers when they first meet. The Japanese will bow, while the people of India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Thailand use the "namaste" greeting (hands in prayer-like position in front of the chest) as a sign of respect. In China, a verbal greeting with a head nod is usually used unless you are familiar with the person. This distance when greeting people is the opposite of what we find in the Central and South American cultures where people hug, kiss and slap each other on the back when meeting. In regions of the world such as the Middle East and other Muslim countries, members of the opposite sex do not normally have any body contact when greeting. This is also true of Orthodox Judaism as well. While many people who continually interact with Americans will conform to our greetings, watch their body language to ensure interaction on a comfortable level.
Celebrating Ramadan
The month of Ramadan will be observed by Muslims around the world between August 11th and September 9th of 2010. Ramadan marks the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. During Ramadan, adults fast while refraining from drinking, smoking or engaging in sexual intercourse during the daylight hours. The term "fasting" also includes abstaining from negative thoughts or attitudes because during Ramadan, Muslims try to develop a sense of solidarity with those who suffer all year long. Ramadan ("high summer") originated before Islam's establishment, when Arab tribes observed a month long truce from all hostilities. Ramadan is the only month the Qur'an mentions by name, because the scriptures were revealed during the month of Ramadan. Muslims typically break their fast by drinking water or eating dates/figs before their evening meal. Ramadan ends on the holiday of Eid-Ul-Fitr (the Breaking of the Fast). During this month, be sensitive to any fasting colleagues, and try not to hold meetings late in the afternoon when people want to return home and break the fast. To extend greetings during Ramadan you can say: "Wishing you the blessings of Ramadan" or "Congratulations on the arrival of Ramadan."
What Assumptions Are You Making?
Making assumptions is natural when interacting with other people. But even when you are among people you know well, such as your family, your assumptions can still get you in trouble. Assumptions in a multi-cultural setting are more apt to result in misconceptions and miscommunication. When we don't know much about the person that we are interacting with, the likelihood of our assumptions' inaccuracy skyrockets. Assumptions are merely guesses as to why someone acts the way that they do. For example, people assumed that when they saw Native American men walking in front of their women, it was a sign of superiority. From the Native American perspective, the men stand in front to protect the women from possible danger. In order to avoid incorrect assumptions, carefully monitor what assumptions you make and ask "Is this idea based upon a fact I know to be true or on an assumption I am making?" If it is based on an assumption, ask for clarification. Share the assumptions you are making too - it will help the other person know where you are coming from.
Making the Eye Connection
As the Arabic adage goes: "The eyes are the window to the soul". In U.S. culture, as well as many Western European and Jewish cultures, a large emphasis is placed on maintaining eye contact with the person you are talking to. "Look me in the eye" is a phrase many people have heard as a child. In these cultures, direct eye contact typically conveys that we have nothing to hide and that we are trustworthy. But for many cultures around the world, averting your eyes is a sign of respect, particularly if you are interacting with an elder or someone of higher authority. We see this in the Native American culture and many Asian cultures as well. The next time you are interacting in a multi-cultural setting, think about what your eyes are saying and examine what assumptions you make about the other person when they don't make eye contact with you. If they are averting their eyes, it could very well be out of respect.
Ask About Family
In many cultures around the world, familiar loyalty and connections are an integral part of daily life. The cultural importance of family is often reflected in ritual greetings. To not ask about someone's family within the first few sentences of greeting them can be considered rude. When you ask about someone else's family, you acknowledge their connections to the world and to the community. If they are a co-worker, taking an interest in who the person is outside of work promotes a friendly work environment. The next time you interact with someone in a multicultural setting, ask about their family. Most likely they will be pleased that you asked and this interest will help foster a positive rapport between the both of you.
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Culture Coach International |
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Helping companies to utilize diversity as a strategic lever for growth and innovation |
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