According to Forbes, last year one of the most popular words was “culture.” (Culture has many connotations. In the world of International Business Etiquette and Cross - Cultural relations, we associate it with cultural awareness). This only underscores how culture is becoming a significant topic, due in large part to the globalization of business. The evolving field of Cultural Intelligence can offer great insight for anyone who wants to succeed in this changing business landscape. I have been very privileged to travel—not just for pleasure, but also to work and live on a few different continents—and I’ve always been able to interact successfully in a variety of cultural settings. What are the key components in these kinds of environments? How can you build powerful business relationships that turn into lasting friendships? How can you make sure you’re valued as an expert and a person? Here are a few powerful principles which can dramatically affect your success when you’re dealing with cultural diversity. 1. Know your own culture and be self-aware about how you reflect it. This is actually not an easy task, believe it or not, because we perceive our culture on a subconscious level. We need to carefully evaluate our cultural rules, values, beliefs, and how they affect the way we communicate, from body language to the greetings we use. When we successfully and realistically assess our own culture, we will be able to positively assess the other person's culture. 2. Learn as much as you can about the other culture. Communicate, listen actively, be honest, look for some similarities, ask questions, and be flexible. Collaborating well with people of other cultures requires a high level of communication skill. We need to be able to ask questions, take notes, and remember things about that culture, like important events and celebrations. We have to listen actively to be able to recognize our similarities and differences. We shouldn't ever assume that certain events or behavior might be the same as in our culture; in fact, assume they aren’t unless you see evidence otherwise. Another very important characteristic is to be honest. Honesty is the platform which can build our relationship. 3. Stereotypes—“a stereotype is a thought that can be adopted about specific types of individuals or certain ways of doing things. These thoughts or beliefs may or may not accurately reflect reality .” (Wikipedia). I am originally from Bulgaria and, like every other culture, we have certain stereotypes. When I visit Bulgaria, we can sit in a coffee shop for hours and talk about “not much”; does that mean Bulgarians are out of touch with the rest of the business world? Definitely not! We’re just used to socializing with one another. Coming to the US showed me a completely different picture: we talk and think most about business. This business focus, along with the fact that we have the shortest average vacation time in the world, helps to reinforce the stereotype that everybody in America is a workaholic, which is not necessarily the truth. 4. Respect our differences. This is my mandatory rule in life. In the picture above, I am with friends from The Middle East attending an event in California. We come from completely different worlds, with our own customs and ideas based on religion, culture, language, and beliefs. But this doesn't stand in the way of our ability to be friends and to support each other, sometimes across continents. What is Cultural Intelligence? Simply put, it’s “the Willingness, tools and ability to identify & respond creatively to cultural challenges & conflicts in ways that both respect and engage others.” Olivier Herlin Maryanne Parker, founder of Manor of Manners www.manorofmanners.com , a company that specializes in International Business, Social and Youth Etiquette in San Diego, CA Poise, elegance, and sophistication were essential to Maryanne’s successful years of corporate experiences in Europe, Africa and Northern America. To contact Maryanne Parker imanorofmanners@yahoo.com
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