Here’s one you may recognize: in our society we have an unwritten rule that you should never ask a stranger if they are pregnant. I'd like to discuss how to not make those mistakes in the future.Ī social faux pas is when we do awkward things that communicate something different than what we intended. It is important to recognize how, in everyday conversations, we may belittle people with disabilities. These are often based on some of our unspoken, unwritten societal expectations. I want to discuss situations where we accidentally express disrespectful or unkind ideas about people with disabilities. Etiquette is a fancy word for kindness and respect. It sounds formal and strict, but we learned most of it in kindergarten or from Mr. Even the word etiquette is enough to make people feel uncomfortable. (If you haven’t already, you can go over etiquette and awareness basics with our online course). I want to follow up on my previous blog posts about disability etiquette and language with a more advanced topic. The third way is to be kind.” – Fred Rogers It takes time and patience to build those relationships, she said.“There are three ways to ultimate success. “And so the only way to get around that is to demonstrate upfront that you are seriously interested in building a relationship with them, in having a relationship with them.” But in parts of the rest of the world, people will believe you’re trustworthy only after you prove yourself to be trustworthy. “They operate on personal relationships,” Brett said, referring to China, “and sometimes we as Americans have a lot of trouble understanding that because we operate on legal contracts.”Īmericans, she added, “tend to believe that a person is trustworthy until they prove themselves not to be. In particular, China operates under distinctly different social, political and economic rules. Many places in the world don’t operate as the United States does in terms of commerce. and European investors - specifically, investors who are seeking to broaden their portfolios into developing and transitional markets in the Far East, India, Russia and Brazil. Although foreign investments in those countries may be down, the economies had a combined GDP last year of more than $16 trillion, according to the International Monetary Fund.ĭespite its slowing economy, China in particular continues to attract U.S. While the economies of the BRIC nations of Brazil, Russia, India and China have faltered in recent quarters, it is unlikely investors will completely pull out of those markets. “It’s about developing that personal relationship that is really necessary in so many parts of the world - before you can get down to the details of negotiating an optimal agreement.”īrett’s treatise on the subject, Negotiating Globally, now in its third edition, is required reading for anyone seeking to understand the art of cross-cultural dealmaking. “They won’t want you as a partner if you can’t understand the circumstances under which they’re operating. “Before going in, it’s helpful to know something about the culture,” she said. Buchanan Jr., Distinguished Professor of Dispute Resolution and Organizations. Those who understand the cultural norms of these economies have the competitive advantage among cross-border entrepreneurs, according to Jeanne Brett, Kellogg’s DeWitt W. Luckily, I was very well coached.” Relationships first “If it happens in the first 20 minutes, it’s fatal. Cultural faux pas have the potential of being deal breakers. But deal-makers like Pillsbury know how crucial first impressions are in any budding relationship, especially when trying to make friends abroad. Westerners might think such things trivial. He joked about supergluing his shoes to the floor while in a meeting with Chinese officials, so as to keep from crossing his legs while seated and showing the soles of his shoes - a sign of disrespect. He learned the proper etiquette in presenting business cards: It’s disrespectful to pull a card from a wallet that’s been in one’s back pocket. “I had to work very hard to learn about the customs and all these subtle cultural differences,” Pillsbury said. Since attempting to master the language overnight wasn’t a realistic option, Pillsbury instead sought cultural fluency. But Pillsbury, the founder of real estate investment firm Thayer Lodging Group, had much to learn. Pillsbury’s associates, both Chinese, spoke Mandarin and were already versed in the cultural nuances of their homeland. It was during these trips that he and two of his associates first began forging relationships with the government officials and hoteliers who would eventually become partners in a $300 million venture with China’s largest hospitality company. By Bobby Caina Calvan | Illustration by Ben O’BrienĮnture capitalist Lee Pillsbury ’82 recently recalled his first business trips to China a decade ago.
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