INDEX
Abdullah, Crown Prince, 12–13
acceptable behaviors. See disrespectful behaviors (perceived)
Adult Third Culture Kids (ATCKs), 151
advertising. See marketing/advertising
African cultures, touch/touching, 103
aggressive communication styles, 71–77
alcoholic drinks etiquette, 144–145
Ambady, Nalini, 33
American culture. See United States culture
animals, treatment of, 27–28
anthropology, cultural, 34
anxiety, 61
apologies, 46
Arab cultures, 21–22, 52, 95, 103, 104, 117
arrival time. See time perception
assertive communication styles, 71–77
ATCKs (Adult Third Culture Kids), 151
attitude, 34–36
axioms, 164–165. See also proverbs and sayings
baggage, cultural, 18–19
baseball games, reactions to, 40–41
beckoning (come here) gesture, 94–95, 107
behaviors
adjusting your, 136–137
assessment of, 16–17
beliefs and values affecting our, 18–19
as clues, 58
core values as dictators of, 153
of direct and indirect communicators, 70–71
disrespectful/acceptable (See disrespectful behaviors (perceived))
formal/informal, 130–131
frames of reference for understanding, 29
frustration with other cultures’, 153–154
genetic factors in, 61
as indicators of core values, 170
influence of Me-We ideologies on, 43
during interviews, 43
invisible elements of, 15–16
mirroring, 149
misinterpreting, 55–56
modifying, 112
organizational, 35–36
others’ views of American’s, 154–156
patterns of, 162–163
perceptions of, 72–73
understanding reasons for, 14–15
See also gestures
beliefs, 18–19, 24, 28–29, 57–58
Bharucha, Jamshed, 32
Blizinsky, Katherine, 60–61
body language. See nonverbal communication
bowing when greeting others, 104–105
brain, cultural shaping of, 31–33
Brannen, Chris, 78
Brannen Group, 78
Brazilian culture, 22–23, 92–93, 100–101, 123
Brown, Tim, 164
Buddhism, 83
bus boarding, 13–15
Bush, George W., 12–13
business cards, 142, 143–144, 149
business transactions, 172
California, cultural differences in, 65
China/Chinese culture, 20–21, 26, 46, 51–52, 51–53, 95, 115
Christianity, 83
clothing/dress codes, 129, 133, 134, 149
coffee etiquette, 145–147
cognitive functions, 31–32
collectivist instincts, 32
college towns, proportion of foreign born students in, 3
Colombian culture, 93, 101, 111–112, 138–139
Colombo, Sri Lanka, 13–15
communication crashes, 69–70, 76–77
communication styles
American, 154–155
comfort with silence, 81–85
context and, 68–70
by country, 77–80
dealing with silence, 84–85
eye contact during, 104
generalizations, 36–37
groups’ development of, 80
importance of effective, 172–173
misinterpreting, 2
perceiving and reacting to different, 71–77
personal preferences in styles of, 67–71
preferences, 78
touching others during conversations, 103
See also nonverbal communication
conditioning, cultural, 4
conflict avoidance, 140
confrontations, 45–46
Confucian philosophies, 59–60
connecting to others
acknowledging beliefs and values of others, 57
barriers to, 24
as core value, 162
versus crashing, 17
differing methods for, 52
in Me and We cultures, 50–51
networks/networking, 50–53
through social media, 52
universal behaviors for, 17
conscious biases, 77
constitutional rights/freedoms, U.S., 20
context/frames of reference, 29, 68–70, 74, 95
core values
behaviors dictated by, 153–154
complaints about American, 154
cultural, 152–153
effects on behavior of, 18–19
Facebook’s, 166–167
generational, 24
marketing to, 157–161
in Me and We cultures, 57–58
meshing with subcultures’, 163, 166, 167, 169
organizational, 163–169
proverbs as reflection of, 24
tips for navigating, 170
uncovering/using your, 161–163
understanding cultural, 148
of U.S. organizations, 168–169
U.S. versus other countries’, 156
counting/numbers gestures, 90–91, 97–98
crashes, culture. See culture crashes
credibility, 134
Cuban culture, 134
cultural anthropology, 34
cultural associations, 171
cultural baggage, 4, 18, 19, 33
cultural values. See core values
culture (in general), 4, 6–7, 17, 35–36
culture crashes, 1–6, 3, 11, 72, 111–112
Dahl, Øyvind, 109–110
Darwin, Charles, 98
decision making influences, 48
Denver Post, 23
design thinking methodology, 164
dimensions of behavior, Hofstede’s, 35–36
direct/indirect communication spectrum, 77, 80, 86–87
direct verbal communication, 67–71, 77, 80, 86–87. See also indirect verbal communication
disagreements, 86
disrespectful behaviors (perceived)
arriving late, 25
asking a question, 25–26
eye contact, 11–12
greetings, 12
guests helping with cleanup, 26–27
informality, 132
kicking a dog, 27–28
perceptions of silence, 26
punctuality, 117
taking credit from someone else, 41
See also misinterpretations
distance from others, 100–101
distribution of power, 131
Dominican Republic, 134
dress codes/clothing, 129, 133, 134, 149
drinking etiquette, 144–148, 149
Eastern cultures, 98
eating etiquette, 144–148, 149
Ecuadoran culture, formality, 136
Edison, Thomas, 29–30
email etiquette, 149
emotions/emotional responses, 61, 71–77, 98, 99
ethnic cultures, 7
etiquette, 130, 132, 144–145, 149. See also formality
expression. See communication styles; gestures
The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals (Darwin), 98
eye contact, 11–12, 103–104, 107
Facebook, 166–167
face culture
communication styles and, 68
hiding negative emotions, 99
saving face, 44–45, 45–48, 57, 67–68, 71–77
facial expressions/gestures, 93–94, 96, 98–100
failing forward, 48
family networks, 52
Fast Company, 164
feedback, tips for giving, 86
feedback crashes, 72–73
filter gestures, 93
foreigners, 171–172
formality
avoiding errors of, 137
ceremonial expressions of, 143–144
eating and drinking etiquette, 144–148
expressions of, 130–131
figuring out your formality zone, 133–137
informality, 132, 149, 155, 166
interpretations of, 132–133
respect for place, 138–140
tips for cultural crossings of, 149
use of titles and names, 140–143, 149
frames of reference/context, 29, 68–70, 74, 95
gender issues, 76–77, 101, 103
generalizations, 36–37
genetic markers for We or Me orientations, 60–61
genetic predispositions, 32, 60
gestures
beckoning (come here), 94–95
mouth/lip gestures, 94, 96, 98–100, 104–105
nuances of, 12–13
pranamasana gesture (India), 104
reading/interpreting, 92–94
yes/no, 96
See also hand gestures
Gladwell, Malcolm, 34
global culture, 17
God willing (Insha Allah), 21–22
Greek culture, finger gestures in, 97
greeting others, 12–13, 17, 90, 104–106, 105, 107
group cultures, 51, 60, 80, 169. See also Me or We
orientations; workplace cultures
Guardian, 158
guest behavior, 138–139
Hall, Edward, 34, 77–78, 116–117
hand gestures
context of, 95
cultural meanings of, 89–90
double meanings of, 102
finger gestures, 107
finger pointing, 95–96
in Greek culture, 97
middle finger gesture, 92
moutza, 97
signaling numbers/counting, 90–91, 97–98
handshakes, 12–13, 90, 105–106
head nodding/shaking, 89, 96, 107
hearing, perceptual issues of, 29–30
high-context communication, 68
hospitality, 50
housing differences, 52–53
hugging others, 104–105
IBM study, 34–36
iceberg model of cultural programming, 15–16, 171
IDEO, 163–166
ideologies, 156, 165. See also core values
Ilorin, University of, 26
immediate gratification, 125, 155, 166
immigrants/immigration, 2, 3, 124, 172
impressions, inaccurate, 56–57
Indian culture, pranamasana gesture, 104
indirect/direct communication spectrum, 77, 80
indirect verbal
communication, 67–71, 77, 80, 86–87
individualism/individuality, 19, 20, 57, 155, 161, 166
individual orientations. See Me or We orientations
influences of culture, 10–11
informality, 130–131, 132, 149, 155, 166. See also formality
Inglorious Basterds, 90–91
Insha Allah (God willing), 21–22
instincts, collectivist, 32
interpretations of behavior, 14, 25–26, 75–76, 82
Iraqi culture, 139
Islamic-based cultures, 60
Jack, Rachael, 98
Jamaican culture, 115
Japan/Japanese culture
beckoning gesture in, 95
certificates of delay, 120
communication styles, 74–75
eating and drinking etiquette, 145
eye contact/where to look, 103
finger gestures in, 97
hand gestures in, 93
interpretation of silence in, 82
personal space in, 100–101
proverbs in, 20
reaction to tie games in, 40
slurping soup, 30
smiles/smiling, 99
student-teacher ratios in, 44
suicide in, 47–48
jeito (social capital), 52
job interviews. See interviews
Jordanian culture, 145–146
kindness, 50
Kirkpatrick, David, 167
kissing in greetings, 104–105
Kohls, L. Robert, 153–154, 156, 162. See also core values
Korean Air pilots, 33
Korean culture, communication styles in, 67–68
language/vocabulary issues, 9, 65–66, 171–172
lateness. See time perception
Later cultures. See Now-Later orientation
Lego, 159–161
Levine, Robert, 116, 117, 121 looking at others, 11–12, 103–104
Los Angeles Times, 158
low-context communication, 68
Madagascar (Malagasy culture), 109–110
manners, good/bad, 30
marketing/advertising, 62, 65, 157, 158–159
meals etiquette, 144–148
Me cultures
acts of kindness in, 50
assumptions about others in, 56
face concept in, 45
origins of, 59
pronouns used in, 57–58
real estate/housing differences, 52–53
saving face in, 47
taking credit from someone else, 41
typical values and beliefs in, 57
See also Me-We—entries
meetings, 25, 63, 86–87, 122–124, 127–128, 137
Me or We orientations, 39–41, 49, 58, 60–61, 63–64
messaging formality/informality, 149
Messi, Lionel, 1
Me-We marketing, 62
Me-We self test, 53–55
Me-We spectrum, 55–61
Mexican culture, 69–70, 95, 104, 115, 122
middle finger gesture, 92
mirroring technique, 106, 107, 149
misinterpretations
about formality, 129–130
avoiding, 96
body stances and gestures, 92–94
of communication styles, 2
different cultures, 55–56
double meanings of hand gestures, 102
due to misperceptions and assumptions, 75
eye contact, 104
head movements, 96
preventing, 66–67
sarcasm, 87
smiles/smiling, 99
touch/touching, 101–103
unconscious bias and, 42–43
work behaviors, 123
See also disrespectful behaviors (perceived)
Moroccan culture, 118
motivating factors, 162
mouth/lip gestures, 94, 96, 98–100, 104–105
musical chairs example, 44
national cultures, 7, 35, 58, 61, 68, 166
Native American culture, proverbs, 115
networks/networking, 50–53
neuroscience, cultural, 31–34, 33, 60
New York Times, 139
New Zealand cultures, kissing during greetings, 104
Nigerian culture, 26
nonverbal communication, 68
cultural differences in, 9–10, 92
habits of, 91
head nodding/shaking, 89
job interview example, 42
mirroring technique, 106
reading gestures, 92–94
tips for, 107
See also facial expressions/gestures; gestures; greeting others; hand gestures; personal space
Northwestern University study, 60–61
Now-Later orientation, 113, 114–116, 118, 120–121, 123– 124, 127–128
no/yes gestures, 96
numbers/counting, gestures for, 90–91, 97–98
observable behaviors, 15–16
office culture, 165–166
“okay” gesture, 93
open hand gesture, 96
organizational behavior, 35–36
organizational culture and values, 61, 68, 80, 168–169
Outliers (Gladwell), 34
palanca (social capital), 52
passive communication styles, 71–77
patterns of behavior, 162–163
perception(s)
of assertive communication styles, 75–76
of communication styles, 71–77
of formality, 133
influence of Me-We ideologies on, 43
old/young woman drawing example, 28
opening your mind to other, 33
programming of our, 28–31
of silence, 26
slurping soup, 30
of time (See time perception)
See also disrespectful behaviors (perceived)
perceptual blindness, 29
personal culture, 166
Philippines culture, beckoning gesture in, 95
philosophies. See proverbs and sayings
pointing the finger, 95–96, 107
Pollock, David C., 151
power distance phenomenon, 131
pranamasana gesture, 104
programming
around silence, 83
bowing when greeting others, 104–105
changing your cultural, 9–10
as cultural baggage, 18
formality, 139
habits around formality, 129–130
iceberg model of cultural, 15–16
identifying your, 25–28
influence on interpreting/misinterpreting actions of, 55–56
Me-We, 55
mindfulness of our, 173
of perceptions, 28–31
personal space comfort/discomfort, 100–101
in Western cultures, 41–42
proverbs and sayings
about time perception, 114, 115
Avoid men who do not speak and dogs that do not bark. (Brazil), 22–23
Confucian, 59–60
The duck that quacks the loudest gets shot. (China), 20–21
God helps those who help themselves. (United States), 21
IDEO’s axioms, 164–165
Insha Allah or God willing. (Arab nations), 21–22
The nail that sticks up gets hammered down. (Japan), 20
as reflection of aspirations, 24
A rolling stone gathers no moss. (United States and Japan), 23–24
Silence is golden. (Germany), 23
The squeaky wheel gets the grease. (United States), 19–20
underlying meanings of, 21–22
understanding our cultural, 19
from various cultures, 24
punctuality, 25, 111, 115–122, 116–118
quanxi (China), 51–53
questions, response time after, 82–83
Rapaille, Clotaire, 159–160
reactions, 16–17, 25–28, 32–33, 71–77
real estate examples, 22, 46, 124
reciprocation, 51
recognition, perceptual blindness and, 29
reflexes, cultural, 32–33
regional groupings (cultures), 35, 68
relationships, 48–50, 50–53, 52, 78, 80, 144, 151
religious cultures, 83
reputation, 48–50
risk taking, 48–50
rituals, eating and drinking, 145–147
rubbing noses as greeting, 104
Russian culture, 99
sacrifice, personal, 49
sales tactics, 22, 46, 124–126, 148
sarcasm, 87
Saudi Arabian culture, 49–50
saving face, 44–45, 45–48, 57, 67–68, 71–77
sayings. See proverbs and sayings
schedules, 115
Schlosser, Eric, 147
school differences, class sizes, 44–45
seating formalities, 137
segmentation of time, 116
self-assessment tests, 53–55, 118–120, 135, 162–163
self-expression, 40
self-perception, 48
self-sacrifice, 49
Serbian culture, finger gestures in, 97
shame, loss of face and, 47
shared cultural traits, 37
silent treatment, 81
Singapore, 25
social capital, 51–53
social gatherings, 111–112
social hierarchies, 131
social media, 166–167
social order, 142
sports, reactions to, 39–41
Sri Lanka, 13–15
stances/body positions, 93
status quo, 49
strangers, relationships with, 49–50
Stross, Randall, 30
subcultures, 163, 166, 167, 169
suicide, losing face and, 47–48
Swiss culture, 99, 120–121, 140
Switzerland, perception of silence in, 26
table manners, 144
TCKs (Third Culture Kids), 151–153
teacher exchange (Chinese/American), 51–52
Tesco, 157–159
texting formality/informality, 149
Thailand/Thai culture, 95
Third Culture Kids (TCKs), 151–153
thumbs up/down gestures, 92–93
tie games, reactions to, 40–41
time crashes, 116
time perception
cross-cultural navigation of, 127–128
European, 110–111
finding/making up time, 113–115
Later cultures, 113, 114–115, 118
Malagasy, 109–111
Now cultures, 113, 115–116, 118, 120–121
punctuality, 25, 111, 115–122, 116–118
time as commodity, 113–115
urgency, 22, 124–126, 128, 163
value of time, 122
your inner time zone, 115–122
time warp scale, 118–120
Trader Joe’s, 158–159
traits, shared cultural, 37
Turkish culture, proverbs, 115
unconscious bias, 42–43
unconscious incompetence, 11, 42–43
United States (in general), 2–3, 20, 51–52, 153–156, 157–158
United States culture
beckoning gesture, 94–95
communication styles, 72–73
culture code, 160–161
feedback crashes, 72–74
finger pointing, 95–96
formality in the work-place, 136
hand gestures in, 93
immediate gratification, 125, 155, 166
Me orientation in, 59
others’ views of, 154–156
perception of silence in, 26
punctuality, 117
reaction to tie games in, 40
silence versus talking in, 81–85
smiling in, 99
touch/touching, 101–103
University of Ilorin, 26
urgency, 22, 124–125, 128, 163
USA Today, 172
Useem, Ruth Hill, 151
values. See core values
verbal communication styles, 66–67, 67–71, 71–77. See also written expression
visual perception, 30–31
wasta concept, 52
We cultures, 40
assumptions about others in, 56
group orientation in, 57
Japanese ideology in, 44–45
job interviews in, 42
Me-We self-test, 53–55
origins of, 59–61
pronouns used in, 57–58
real estate/housing differences, 52–53
risk-taking in, 48–49
smiling in, 99
taking credit from someone else, 41
typical values and beliefs in, 57
See also Me cultures; Me or We orientations
Western cultures, 98
workplace cultures
asking a question, 25–26
Facebook’s, 166–167
formality (See formality)
IDEO’s, 163–166
Japanese, 20–21
job interviews, 42
job titles, 141–142
Lego’s, 159–161
meetings (See meetings)
meshing with core values, 165–166
Now-Later orientation in, 123–124
response to silence, 83
study of attitudes in work-place, 34–36
written expression, 65, 137. See also verbal communication styles
yes and no gestures, 96
Zimbabwe culture, proverbs, 115
Zuckerberg, Mark, 166–167