Learning the Tricks of the Trade by Marc Abrahams (HBR, April 2006**) reminds me of a few experiences I had with the UN in some countries.
I was a Finance Officer in UNDP, Sri Lanka in the mid 70S. Thus, all incoming foreign experts had to see me first to get their first living allowance. A Japanese fisheries expert walks into my room and says, "You mind I sit". I replied, "I don't mind." The expert shouts back, "You bad man, you don't want me sit." I tried so hard to explain to him but he got angry and walked out. To end the story, the expert went on to complain to another Japanese expatriate, who then explained to him what "don't mind" literally meant in the English language. The man then apologized to me and made peace.
Updated 4/16/2006
I was organizing a workshop in Bangkok and was trying to have a balanced mix of men and women in four teams. So I listed on a chalkboard 'SEX" with two columns marked 'M" (for males) and 'F' (for females). One professional from one of the other Asian countries quickly came up to me and said, "remove that bad word SEX", that is a private matter and is a bad word to use in public." I complied to respect the culture. The irony of the fact, is that very man who said that to me was having an affair with another secretary in the office, he later divorced his wife and married that other woman. In the same way, when the Economist of 4/21/2006, ran an article titled Women in the workforce "The importance of sex", all it meant was that women were a great resource for economic growth.
In UNICEF Bangladesh (also in the mid 70S), an American auto engineer asked some of the mechanics to open all car hoods to inspect the car engines. One mechanic replied that if you open the car hood then there will be no roof in the car and all passengers will get wet and the car will be damaged. On the other side of the ocean, bonnet means the hood of the car. The hood or bonnet is the hinged cover over the engine of motor vehicles that allows access to the engine compartment for maintenance and repair. Bonnet is British English (US: "hood"). Marc Abrahams has pointed out in his article (referenced above) that when communicating with colleagues or customers, "just in time" may not mean immediate availability and more than a "date" means dinner and a movie.
If you work overseas you can get an application like this from an employee asking for one day sick leave: "I am suffering from fever, please declare one day holiday." And here is another person asking for 10 days leave as he is the sole provider to the family, not one who committed murder: "My mother-in-law has expired and I am only one responsible for it, please grant me 10 days leave." And a covering note: "I am enclosed herewith..."
In these days of globalization and business without borders, we have a lot to learn about other cultures and should learn of sensitivities before making foreign visits. Like, in Thailand and similar places, you do not touch the head of a person or point to something with your foot; it is very rude to do so. On the other hand, do not try to kiss a colleague of the opposite sex as western form of greeting unless you know it is okay to do so. I will think of more to add to this later. Meanwhile, another good place to visit is Improbable Research that makes people laugh and then think.
PS:**You will need access HBR on-line access or get a copy of the April 2006 issue of Harvard Business Review to read the article.
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