Honduras Culture Tips
The following will come in handy when you are in Honduras or when you work with Hondurans.
+ Honduras is a small Central American nation that has been agriculturally based for much of its history. Hondurans are sensitive to using the words “America” and “American” in reference to the USA. They define the term “America” as the sum of its parts: North, Central, and South America.
+ The extended family and close friends constitute a very important network for Hondurans to call upon for emotional support and general assistance. Most young people live at home until they marry, while elderly parents live with their married children.
+ Machismo, a core aspect of many Hispanic cultures, literally means masculinity or the projection of strength. Boys are raised to believe that they are superior to women and that they have a superior role within the culture.
+ In business, the ultimate decision maker acts without developing a consensus. Hondurans do not question the decisions made by their superiors because this would be tantamount to challenging the person’s character.
+ Most Hondurans have both maternal and paternal surnames. It is considered polite to address people by the appropriate honorific title (Señor or Señora) and their surname until invited to a first-name basis. However, if someone is older, they may prefer to be called Don or Doña with their first name, as a sign of respect.
+ The most important cultural attributes that you will see operating in business in Honduras are:
- A strong system of hierarchy
- Formal style
- An emphasis on interpersonal relationships
- Indirect communication
+ When managing Hondurans, remember that each employee has a distinct role within the organization, and maintaining that role helps maintain social structure. People believe that their supervisors have been chosen because they have more experience and knowledge than those they manage.
- from RW3′s CultureWizard™ Country Profiles