Greetings! A few of months ago while attending a conference in Chicago, my conference host invited me and a few other conference speakers to dinner at a local steakhouse. It didn't occur to the host until much later in the evening that one of the couples in our group was from India.
Just before he took our order, our server presented a silver platter of raw steak to the woman from India! Unbeknownst to our host, most people from India are vegetarians and don't eat meat because the cow is considered sacred! I felt very embarrassed for the couple and for our host. Instead of making a fuss over the awkward situation, the couple simply ordered pasta.
Have you ever made a faux pas while doing business with an international client? In this global economy the chances of doing so are very high. On March 8, The New York Times published an article titled, "Going Global, Stateside," about the importance of cross-cultural training. Click here to read the article.
This newsletter is dedicated to educating you a little bit on international dos and don'ts. Today, I am partnering with anthropologist and intercultural specialist, Lisa La Valle-Finan, to offer a 90-minute webinar on "How to Develop a Global Mindset in the Twenty-First Century." If you can't attend the webinar, you may still order the recording.
Whenever possible, please take the opportunity to do your homework before doing business with someone from another culture. It might make the difference between building or losing the relationship!
Dedicated to YOUR success,
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Going Global: 8 Tips to Avoid an International Incident
To stay competitive in our ever-changing business climate, cultural competence and a global mind-set are musts. Here are eight tips to be a better global executive:
Be observant and ask questions. When traveling internationally, notice how people act, dress, and treat each other.
Think before you speak. If you don't have an interpreter, stick to simple and direct language. Avoid slang. Stay away from controversial subjects like politics and religion, unless, of course, your host brings up the subjects.
Keep an open mind. Be aware that something as simple as a handshake differs from culture to culture. In some countries, eye contact may be kept to a minimum as a way of showing deference or respect. And don't be surprised if someone greets you with a kiss on the cheek.
Never refuse hospitality when it is offered. In most cases your international host will offer you water, coffee or tea. Gladly accept their offer, even if you are not thirsty. By not doing so, you run the risk of insulting him.
Appreciate the differences. Don't compare living standards in the U.S. with those of your international hosts. There's nothing wrong with being proud of where you live, but boasting and comparing can be counterproductive to establishing a successful relationship.
Be apprised of world events. You don't have to be an expert in international affairs, but it's helpful to know the basics, like what foods your visitors or hosts enjoy, what holidays are observed in their country, and a little bit about their government and their favorite sports.
Learn a few phrases. Learn at least a few common phrases before traveling abroad or welcoming international visitors to the U.S. Your efforts will be appreciated.
Begin by using surnames and professional titles. Instant familiarity doesn't always make a favorable impression in other parts of the world. Wait until the client or colleague lets you know when it's acceptable to use his or her first name. Addressing someone by their correct title also conveys respect. A title such as "doctor" or "professor" is highly valued in Germany, Italy, and many other countries.
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Global Business Dress for Women
 For the purpose of business meetings and events, women should consider the following guidelines when traveling internationally:
Wear Tailored Clothing: Tailored clothing always looks better. It pays to invest in several high quality outfits that are interchangeable than in multiple poor quality outfits.
Color and Patterns: Conservative colors and fabrics remain a standard in business attire for men and women. Wear dark gray or navy pants and suits. Women can also wear black if the clothing itself is professional (cocktail dresses are not appropriate for business meetings).
Avoid color and pattern extremes. You want to make a statement about your business not a personal statement expressing your passion for purple polka dots.
Pants and Suits: Pants are fine, but stick to tailored pants with a crease. Khaki, twill, and corduroy are good fabric choices for business casual but stay away from denim and heavy cotton materials. Pants and suits made from wool and wool blends are good standard business attire and work for all seasons.
Make sure pants are pressed and as wrinkle free as possible. The hem should cover the ankle but not drape to the floor. Even if you have a lovely figure stay away from pants that are too tight or too low-waisted -- revealing your tattoos when you lean over.
Skirts and Dresses: The right color and material are important but the right length is critical. If you sit in a chair and can see too much thigh when you cross or uncross your legs, the skirt is too short.
If your skirt has a slit it should be small, centered in the back, and no higher than the back of your knee. High slits in skirts are never appropriate. A slit should not impair mobility (walking and climbing up stairs). If you cannot walk comfortably in a skirt it is too small or too tight.
Shirts and Sweaters: First rule: never show cleavage. Blouses should be tailored and coordinate with the rest of your outfit. Fine-gauge knit shells are fine but be sure any top you choose is not see-through. And leave the lacy blouses at home.
Bras and Panties: Undergarments should support your figure and not show through clothing. If your panty line shows, your clothing may be too tight or you might need to wear a slip.
Shoes: Closed-toed pumps in a color that compliments your outfit are best. Avoid wearing stilettos or shoes that are sexy and strappy. It is important to wear shoes that fit well so you can walk comfortably.
Bonus Tips: When doing business in the Middle East, wear modest clothing and a headscarf of some sort.
If you plan to visit any churches while traveling internationally, wear a blouse with sleeves that cover your shoulders. Sleeveless shirts and tank tops are not appropriate.
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Webinar of the Month
 How to Develop a Global Mindset in the Twenty-First Century
Presented by Lisa La Valle-Finan,
Anthropologist and Intercultural Specialist
Moderated by Jacqueline Whitmore
If your job requires international business travel or if you just love to travel to exotic destinations, it is important to understand cultural differences. A lack of cross-cultural awareness can be a major obstacle to your effectiveness in dealing with persons of other cultures. Many missteps and misunderstandings can happen due to lack of preparation and research before an international business meeting or social event.
This webinar will provide you with the tools to become more cross-culturally competent and confident when dealing with and creating relationships with international clients, customers and coworkers. This webinar will:
DEFINE: Recognize verbal and non-verbal communication styles with people from other cultures.
EDUCATE: Learn how to make sense of different values, implicit assumptions, unfamiliar reasoning processes and systems of logic.
ENLIGHTEN: Learn to interpret all that is seen and heard in the new culture.
About the Presenter: Lisa La Valle-Finan, MS is an Intercultural adviser grounded in anthropology. She trains, travels, and writes about a wide variety of cultural topics. More information can be found on the Lisa's website at www.getGlobalized.org.
DATE: Thursday, March 11, 2010
TIME: 2:00pm - 3:30pm (EST)
PRICE: $60.00, includes a video recording of the live event.
Can't attend the webinar? You may still purchase a link to the recording for $60.00. To purchase, click here:
You may also register by phone: (561) 586-9026 or email Jacqueline.
NOTE: To ensure the highest quality, this webinar is limited to 15 participants.
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Would You Like Me To Be Your Personal Coach for An Entire Year?
Are you interested in taking your etiquette and image consulting business to the next level? Are you tired of making decisions by yourself? Would you like to have your own personal coaching team to help you be the very best that you can be? If you answered, "Yes," to any of these questions then you may want to consider joining my very exclusive mastermind group, The Consultants' Connection. The Consultants' Connection is a group that I founded four years ago with the intent to help etiquette and image consultants grow their business and fulfil their personal and professional goals and dreams. The Consultants' Connection is limited to 20 consultants to ensure that you get the most personalized attention. We meet the third Wednesday of every month at 8pm - 9pm Eastern time to discuss steps and strategies to grow our businesses. Every other month, I invite guest experts and authors to speak to our group about various subjects including marketing, writing, social networking and more! If you'd like my support as well as the camraderie of all the
other successful members in the group, please join! The membership fee
is just $479.00. As an extra incentive, if you join by April 30, 2010 you will: - Receive 14 months for the price of 12.
- Be able to participate in my webinars at half price.
- Most importantly, have access to my coaching services all year long at no extra charge. This is a savings of $250.00 per hour!
To become a member, click here to join.  Or, email me if you would like further information!
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Is Yelling at Coworkers Good for Your Health?
Medical researchers say repressing "desk rage" could be hazardous to your health. Men who suppress anger at work are two to five times more likely to suffer a heart attack or die from heart disease than those who express it, says a study by Swedish researchers published in a recent issue of the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.
Most at risk are workers who use "covert coping"-that is, refraining from confronting a co-worker who treats you unfairly, ignoring the situation or walking away instead. Researchers tracked 2,755 men with no history of heart problems from the early 1990s until 2003 and found those who used covert coping were far more likely by 2003 to have heart attacks or die from heart disease. The results were controlled for age, socioeconomic factors, job strain and biological risk factors. Workers who reacted by protesting directly, yelling or airing their grievances right away had significantly less heart trouble.
Source: WSJ.com
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Hear me speak on March 24 in the Great Smoky Mountains!
If you live in or near the Knoxville, TN area and would like to have lunch with me and attend my half-day seminar,
"The Polished Professional," click here for details.
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