Mind Your Multicultural Manners, It’s Good for Business

I'd like to thank Lisa La Valle-Finan, an Intercultural Adviser and Creative Director of GetGlobalized.org for being my guest blogger and sharing her valuable information regarding multicultural manners...

Unless you’ve been living in a cave lately, you’re probably experiencing considerable anxiety about the global economic crisis . This emotion is immediately followed by further panic when recruiters or employers are asking you to “go global” to make yourself more marketable. That’s if you still have a job. How and when is all this supposed to happen? Is this a form of outsourcing? I mean, it’s not like you’re ever really going to live or work outside your home, right? So, why should going global concern you?

It’s Official: Wake Up and Smell the Outsourcing

With the stunning realization that America's financial crisis is the world's crisis, the biggest misstep an American woman can make, is to think that fluttering of her entrepreneurial wings does not affect the rest of the world. Or the reverse, that what is happening around the world, doesn’t affect her business. Today, when one country sneezes, very often we all catch a cold.

The other mistake is to not have a passport, and think that it’s unlikely that you’ll ever have to work, travel, or live in another country. According to the State Department, although the number of passports issued to Americans has risen, because of post 9/11 homeland security measures, to the tune of about 74 million¹ in 2008, most Americans still view them as just another form of identification.

No Culture Is Foreign, It’s Just Different.

But there is a great deal of fear that comes with going global and things “foreign”. How can you deal with it? One way is to reframe the issue of what is “foreign”. How you frame, or name, what you speak about, determines how to think about it. If you change the semantics, you change your perceptions. With a “clear lens” cultures become less foreign and more familiar. You can also readjust how you think about your place on the earth. You’re part of the global village. You breathe the same air as 4 billion fellow inhabitants. You are not separate from them. In any way. No matter who you are or where you live. Calcutta. Copenhagen. Cincinnati. All. The. Same. Therefore, you, as an American business professional, are a part of the global community. The term international is no longer about “those people over there”. Reframing the way you refer to your place in the world will help you get more comfortable in it. For many Americans, who are like coming of age adolescents², it’s time to get down to business if we are to compete up in the 21^st Century global economy.

Multicultural Manners: Handle With Care

As women business owners, the statistically fastest growing sector of the economy, ³ it is incumbent upon us to look ahead to the all the trends that affect our businesses and embrace them with education and an awareness about multicultural manners, in order to do great global business. Because even if you don’t speak another language, as you will find many other people around the world do, it’s wise to know the soft skills that will make your professional, hard skills sing if you are involved in:

• Intercultural Business: In a position to manufacture your scarves in China? You’re going to need to pull guanxi (pronounced gwan-SHEE) or make the right connections before you begin the deal.
• Diverse Teams or Intra-Office: Is the new team member on your design project, from India, but you don’t know why he seems unenthused about your concept. Maybe it’s because he is waiting for his boss to tell you his disposition.
• Expatriation: Have you been assigned to work for an upper management ExPat (Ex-Patriot) who’s just returned from a two-year stint in Prague, but can’t understand his moodiness? Perhaps he is experiencing culture shock.
• Relocation: Is your finance background suddenly an asset to a firm in Turkey? Do you find yourself upending your life to work there for a year, but unable to cope with the preparations?

These are just a few of the typical examples that require cross cultural professionals to help you do global business, better in addition to your new way of thinking.

What Makes Them Tick

Of course it’s important to know how to handle ourselves in another culture, but what’s more important, is how we’re being perceived by the other culture. And which behavior on our part will make a good impression. The following chart is actually applicable to many other cultures, with a few tweaks here and there. Understanding the cognitive behavior -- how people process information, or what makes them tick -- is the key to giving your business dealings traction, and therefore revenue. Here are some key personality traits that delineate between Western and Eastern national character.

Western Character Eastern Character

Me centered We centered

Assertive Respectful

Gregarious Solemn

Gestural Non-gestural

Enthusiastic Diplomatic

Shake Hands Rarely Shake Hands, Bow

A Little Local Knowledge Goes A Long Way

After re-setting your cross-cultural compass, one way to cement cultural gaps is to focus on making personal connections, when the time is right. It’s not only essential to know what the national values of your counterpart are, but also your shared personal interests. Ones that can create deeper, more harmonious and sustaining business relationships. After the foundational elements of values and etiquette are addressed – whether to kiss, bow or shake hands – you can progress to a more sophisticated level of communication with the help of topic starters. Positive "points of entry" that enable you to socialize, conduct business, and create personal relationships.

I find that point of entry through film. You may find it through food, music, or some other “arts and cultural” area other than the usual “off limits” topics like religion and politics. But it’s usually a popular cultural topic that will “speak” to you. In any case, before you travel for business or pleasure, do your homework. And consider talking with a cross-cultural professional about what your objectives and how you can most effectively obtain them to make the experience most profitable and productive. After all, traveling these days is time consuming and often expensive, so for the sake of your own business, or that of your employer, consulting a certified intercultural pro makes a lot of dollars (or Euros or Yen) and sense. Because no matter where in the world you come from, it’s good to know where you’re going, and how to act appropriately once you get there. A little local knowledge goes a long way.

Lisa La Valle-Finan is a licensed IC consultant, writer, and Creative Director of getGlobalized™. She’s been traveling and writing for 25 years, speaks French, Italian and Greek, and welcomes all comments and can be reached at llfinan@live.com More information can be found on the company’s website at www.getGlobalized.org.

© By Lisa La Valle-Finan, June 1, 2009

A Conversation with Megan Meadors, Miss Indiana 2008

I had the pleasure of meeting Megan Meadors a few years ago when she was preparing to compete in the Miss Indiana Pageant. Megan and her mother engaged me for some one on one instruction in etiquette and protocol. Megan was already very savvy in this area and we merely tweaked some things that she was not sure of. It was a special treat to work with this engaged, focused and bright young woman. I had no doubt that she would be successful in any of her life endeavors. This young woman is certainly much more than a “pretty face”; a myth that is often perpetuated about pageant participants.

Megan has graciously agreed to respond to my questions and as you will see, this is a woman of substance. Thanks, Megan.

Tell us a little about yourself…

I’m a 24 year old Graduate of the University of Indianapolis with a Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy. I practice occupational therapy at a senior community in a suburb of Indianapolis. I was Miss Indiana 2008 in the Miss America system. I love being around people, trying food from different cultures, and the Indianapolis Colts!

Megan, please tell us how you became interested in participating in pageants and at what age did you start participating?

I became interested in pageants the summer before my senior year of high school when I was 16. During this summer I competed in the Miss Auburn pageant for the chance to represent my hometown in our county fair pageant. I was very active in cheerleading and show choir in high school and most of my friends from these activities were competing in Miss Auburn so I thought it would be a fun thing to try.

What are the greatest misconceptions about pageants?

I think there are many misconceptions about pageants and the girls that compete in them. First off we do get along very well. I was in three of my fellow competitors weddings and they will be in mine one day. Second we are very intelligent. We have to be to be successful. The interview portion of the competition accounts for a large portion of your score and you have to show that you are articulate and voice your opinions in an educated manner. Third we are not conceded and self-centered. Every girl competing has a community service platform we believe in, volunteer for, and raise money for. That was my favorite part of being Miss Indiana…volunteering at events all over the state.

What have been the greatest benefits for you?

When you are Miss Indiana you are thrust in every kind of situation. Sometimes the organizers of event would throw you into situations you would not expect but you would have to “roll with it”. I feel now that I can handle myself in any situation and have the confidence in myself to step up and take risks in my life to benefit me in my career and personal life.

What skills do you think have been essential to succeed in pageants and in other aspects of your life?

Confidence, a good work ethic, interpersonal communication skills, public speaking skills, and a strong sense of self.

How have you transferred these skills into your personal and professional life?

I really don’t think these skills were ever “transferred.” They became a part of who I am and that is what is so great about competing in the Miss America system…you grow into your best self!

As an Occupational Therapist, what do you take from the world of being Miss Indiana into the health care world?

All of the skills listed above have helped me to be able to build strong relationships with my patients and their families. I believe having rapport with a patient is one of the most important aspects of the rehabilitation process. When patients trust you they will follow the steps you recommend to reach their maximal level of independence. These skills also benefit me when interacting with my co-workers, doctors, and patient’s families.

What advice would you give teens and young women interested in entering the world of pageant competition?

First I would say know who you are, what you believe in, and what you want to accomplish as a titleholder before competing. That self-confidence will help you to go far not only in pageantry but in life. Also if you truly want to be Miss ______ don’t ever give up on your dream. I competed at Miss Indiana 5 times before I reached my goal and if I would have given up I would never be who I am today.

What does the future look like for you?

For the first time in my life I really don’t know and it’s actually so exciting. For such a long time my goal and focus was becoming Miss Indiana and my life revolved around reaching that goal. After I gave up my crown I felt so free and that I had a whole world of opportunities in front of me. I plan to continue to be involved in the Miss America Organization as a consultant, director, or state board member. I am continuing to make appearances as a former Miss Indiana speaking about my platform of Alzheimer’s Awareness and to young children about reaching their goals. In the distant future I see myself happily married with a family.

Thanks, Megan…I welcome comments and remarks regarding the world of pageants. If you have been a part of this system, I’d love to hear from you too.