| Multiculturalism is a reality in North America and for | | | | your Cuban male client kisses you on the cheek, you |
| those of us who do business globally. The US has | | | | know you've made the short list. Immigrant men |
| more legal immigrants yearly than all the other | | | | from the Middle East often shake hands with a slight |
| countries in the world combined. Also there are vast | | | | nod or bow and then exchange kisses on both |
| cultural differences among "native" North Americans | | | | cheeks. Men from the Middle East usually don't shake |
| living in the US and Canada for several generations, | | | | hands with women, nor do they introduce the |
| as you know if you've done business with a New | | | | woman with them. Do not attempt to shake hands |
| Yorker (better be quick!) or with a Texan (better | | | | with a Middle Eastern woman unless -- and here's |
| stand at a 90degree angle to your male | | | | where the EQ comes in -- she extends her hand to |
| companion).Culture is not ethnic or racial. It is learned | | | | you. Men in Eastern Europe, Portugal, Spain and Italy |
| and of course each culture is different. Treat | | | | will often kiss male friends on the cheek.7. Pakistanis |
| everyone like a unique individual, as you would like to | | | | (largely Muslims) greet with salaam, which is the |
| be treated, don't get hung up on stereotypes. | | | | equivalent of our "hello."The salaam is done by |
| Develop your emotional intelligence so you can be | | | | bowing with the palm of the right hand on the |
| more intuitive about how to communicate with, | | | | forehead. Salaam means "peace" or "Peace be with |
| negotiate with, and provide services and products for | | | | you."8. Postures also have meaning.Ready to settle in |
| people from cultural backgrounds other than your | | | | with your Middle Eastern client? You may be most |
| own. I offer some tips below, and yet they are not | | | | comfortable sitting back in your chair and crossing |
| universal in these cultures.1. I repeat, do not expect | | | | your legs. Well, don't! In the Middle East, one of the |
| everyone in a culture to be the same!2. In South | | | | most insulting things you can do is sit with your legs |
| Texas, if you're talking to a male, they will often | | | | crossed so the bottoms of the feet are pointed in |
| stand at a 90 degree angle to you.If you move to | | | | the other person's direction. The foot is the dirtiest |
| reorient, a "dance" will begin. This is a markedly | | | | part of the body and the sole of the shoe is the |
| non-intimate position, and often the eyes are cast | | | | dirtiest of the low. To show someone the bottom of |
| down to the floor or out across the floor. South | | | | your foot or shoe means you're looking for a fight!9. |
| Texans generally say "Pleased to know you," while | | | | Even handshaking cultures do it differently.Many |
| Mid Westerners say, "Pleased to meet you" or | | | | Britian's prefer a brief but firm handshake. The French |
| "Pleased to make your acquaintance." In social | | | | prefer a light grip while sharing a single gentle shake |
| settings in South Texas, it is not customary to shake | | | | that's quickly withdrawn. Germans will give a very |
| hands with women. Other San Antonio cultural | | | | firm handshake -- just one "pump" then quick |
| customs -- in San Antonio society, we have the | | | | withdrawal. More than one shake with Germans or |
| haute hug - two women will parody a hug, not | | | | French is considered aggressive. Italians will shake |
| touching any part of their bodies, and just patting | | | | hands and then hug friends or kiss them on both |
| one another lightly on the back. As a sign of | | | | cheeks.10. Bear in mind the other person may be |
| affection, when you shake hands, sometimes you | | | | trying to accommodate your culture, so don't assume |
| cover the other person's hand with your left hand | | | | they will use their traditional greeting.For example, if |
| and pat or squeeze with warm eye contact. This is | | | | you start first, for instance bowing, and then see a |
| particularly done with respected older people.3. Be | | | | hand extended for a shake, and switch to that, the |
| aware that most of the world does not greet by | | | | other person will then have switched to a bow and |
| shaking hands.4. People from Asian cultures bow in | | | | this becomes awkward. For many cultures such |
| greeting, but the bows are different.People from | | | | "awkwardness" will kill the relationship early on, which |
| Cambodia and Laos bow with both hands together in | | | | means the deal is off.11. Greetings are critical first |
| front of the chest, as if praying. In Japan, the depth | | | | moves in relationships.Begin with a polite word or |
| of the bow signifies the level of respect for the | | | | two, such as "Mr. and Mrs. Takida, it's so nice to |
| other party. Many Koreans prefer bowing and if they | | | | meet you at last," and then hesitate for a moment |
| shake hands, the right hand is supported at the wrist | | | | to see what they want to do and are comfortable |
| by the left hand to show respect. Thais bow with | | | | with. Then mirror their gesture, be it bow, hand |
| palms together about chest-high with their fingers | | | | shake, abrazo (hug) or nothing! Use your intuition! |
| outstretched. And, there are exceptions. The | | | | When in doubt, err on the side of conservatism.I look |
| Taiwanese usually nod the head in recognition rather | | | | forward to the day when we abandon our collective |
| than bow.5. Some cultures naturally greet by | | | | need for safety through homogeneity and reclaim |
| hugging.Native Hawaiians hug each other, exchanging | | | | our natural curiosity about what is not like us. We |
| breaths. The custom is called "ha." Ancient Hawaiians, | | | | then will no longer need to "manage" diversity, and |
| incidentally, actually bumped heads together. Mexicans | | | | will have no need other than to engage it and open |
| use the abrazo. Greeks and Italians often hug with or | | | | ourselves to receive its gifts. |
| without shaking hands first.6. Some cultures kiss!If | | | | |