When you travel to another country for business, you’ve probably done some research about the cultural norms. You know the answers to what’s expected when you meet someone new, if there are specific gifting customs, or even how quickly you’ll get to talking about the issue at hand. But even in our rapidly globalizing world, there’s still plenty of regional variation here in the US ready to trip you up.
In an era concerned with “authenticity” and being “genuine,” it can be hard to read the signals for people in other parts of the country. For example, when I moved to California, people seemed very friendly and would say how we needed “to get together sometime.” Professional or personal, I kept meeting people who indicated they wanted to connect, but I’d never hear from them again. It didn’t matter if I reached out first or waited, there was almost no response. Was there something wrong with me?
Turns out that folks in California will never directly say “no.” These are the masters of the fadeaway, the hazy plan to meet or do something in the far-off future. And if you do make a plan? “You set it up weeks in advance and then you cancel it three times;” it’s just like Grace (Jane Fonda) says. While most Americans have difficulty in saying no, Californians take the practice to a whole new level.
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Take the quizWords are transformative and powerful. If you can master the ability to decode the cultural norms of an area and what drives people, it will bring you one step closer to truly effective communication. For a start, grasp the regional differences in these three areas; we’re speaking generally, but understand what to expect and you won’t get caught off guard when you next do business:
