Diversity

CommunicatingAcross

Cultures

Today's Exercise● “80% of success is showing up.” – Woody Allen

● Those who showed up today will teach us about business cultural diversity and get 3% for the exercise.

● Today's lecture is your lecture, you are the experts.

● Break into homogenous groups, discuss, present.

Cultural Norms● To reduce stress, say “No.”● To increase success, say “Yes.”● But how to say yes or no?

➢ To your boss, peer, subordinate● When to say it? How many times?● How do you know they mean it?

Cultural Norms● Is there anything you should not ask?

➢ e.g. Are you Swiss?● Topics which can never be discussed?● General etiquette

➢ “Please” is __________➢ “Thank you” is ________

● Mobile phone etiquette

Cultural Norms● How do you negotiate?● Do you haggle?

➢ e.g. Mennonite pricing.

Cultural Norms● How is your culture generally perceived?

➢ How is it really?● What are common forms of address?

➢ In business. ➢ With extreme reserve and deference. ➢ When with close friends.

Cultural Norms● Are there common phrases and ideas used in a business context?

● What does it mean when someone says/does this...

● Typical attire● How to correct or object to behaviour in the office?

➢ Gum chewing, smoking

Cultural Norms● Time Zones and the flow of daily life● Business cultural norms for

➢ Arriving and leaving.➢ Overtime➢ Coffee/tea break➢ Lunch➢ After work gathering➢ Getting called at home

Cultural Norms● Does religion affect the office?● How to respect times for

➢ Daily prayer➢ Days of observance: weekly and holy

days

Cultural Norms● Communication techniques across time zones and cultures

● Relative weights of➢ Face to face, ➢ Video, ➢ Audio, ➢ Text➢ email

Cultural Norms● Suggestions for pan-cultural management techniques

● What works globally?