I’m an American, and a type A American at that. So, when I’m eating out, I expect the waiter to telepathically know when I’m ready for the bill. I thought the scribble in your hand gesture was universal, but my research indicates otherwise. While it’s de rigeur in the USA, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand, other countries have different signals to summon a waiter.

Because eating and conversing with friends is a social occasion, the waiter will not give you the bill until you ask. Raise your hand with the index finger extended or raise your right hand and pretend your thumb or forefinger are a pen, and sign the air to indicate a desire for the check. You may hear locals make kissing noises, but this is rude.

Mexico – Wave or raise your hand, but don’t motion with your index finger (this is an obscene gesture). Or, motion to the waiter by pretending to write in the air.

Japan – Extend your arm slightly upwards, palm facing down and flutter your fingers.

Malaysia / Singapore – Use the beckoning gesture with your entire right hand moving towards your body.

Philippines - Move your thumb and index finger in the shape of a rectangle.

Thailand – Say “Khun Khap” (for waiter) or “Khun Ka” (for waitress).

Clap your hands once or twice and make eye contact. Waving your hand or fingers is extremely rude.

Pakistan – Raise your right hand.

Baltic Countries – Make eye contact and raise your right hand.

France – Despite what Hollywood portrays, do not snap your fingers and say “Garçon!”. The waiter will wait for you to request the bill. Flag the waiter by saying, “Si’l vous plait, Monsieur?” or make a writing gesture in the air.

Germany - Raise your hand and say, “Herr Ober” (for a waiter) or “Fräulein” (for a waitress).

Netherlands – Make eye contact and raise your right hand. You may say, “Ober” or “Meneer” (for a waiter) or “Mevrouw” (for a waitress). Finger snapping is extremely rude.

Slovakia – Snapping your fingers is rude, but it can also be the only way to get the waiter’s attention in a country still struggling with the concept of customer service.

Spain - Signal in the air the signing of a receipt.

Sweden - Make eye contact or say “excuse me Sir / Madam”.

Switzerland - In German cantons, say “Herr Ober” or “Fräulein”. It’s rude to wave your hand.

United Kingdom – Make eye contact, signal / raise your hand, and then say “Excuse me, sir”.

North and West Africa – Subtly raise your right hand and make eye contact. Waving your hand is rude. Locals may make a loud, directed “PSSSST!” sound, but it’s best not to emulate this.

Cameroon & Nigeria – The local custom is to hiss. You may also say loudly, “Excuse me”. Do not call the waiter “Garçon”.

Ghana – Say loudly, “Sir”, “Madam” or “Excuse me”.

Kenya – Say “Excuse me”, “Bwana” or beckon with the palm facing downward.

Mali – Say “Chef” (which literally means chief) or “Teri kay” (friend).

Senegal – Say “Garçon”.

South Africa – Raise your hand or make eye contact.

Tanzania – Say “Rafiki” (friend) or say “Psst” with the palm of your right hand facing upwards.

Carrie
RW3 CultureWizard

The 7 Ways an Indian Programmer Says No made me chuckle because of its broad applicability.

Indirect communication is common in Asia, the Middle East, Latin / South America and many Mediterranean and African countries. Direct communication is the norm in Western Europe, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other parts typically considered “The West”.

People from direct communication cultures strive to quickly relate information with great clarity when conversing, so as to not waste the listener’s time – a precious commodity valued by many direct communication cultures. Individuals from indirect communication cultures strive to maintain the honor and face of both the speaker and listener. Therefore, the speaker says what s/he thinks the listener wants to hear, even if this is not the unadulterated truth. Such face-saving is considered kind, polite and respectful.

This can be confusing for those of us who are direct communicators because we expect communication to be clear and precise, where what is said is what is meant. For direct communicators, their word is their bond.

Indirect communication relies on context, particularly eye contact, facial expressions, tone of voice, and body language rather than the spoken word. By paying attention to non-verbal language, listeners can decipher the true message. If you come from a direct culture, it may take time to understand the nuances of indirect communication where what is not said can be as important as what is said. People from direct cultures must learn to listen hard to avoid missing the subtleties. They may also need to temper their speech pattern to not appear overly blunt and rude.

Clues to help you decipher indirect communication:

• In Azerbaijan, people apologize for saying no to a request. They may add phrases such as “I wish it were possible”, “If it were possible I would do it” or “In the future it may be possible.”
• Be on the lookout for the word “maybe” because it can be used to make a direct statement indirect. Rather than tell me this blog needs to be edited, a Chinese publisher might say, “Maybe this blog should be edited.”
• If you hear phrases such as “I will see”, “I will try” or “It may be difficult,” you’ve probably been given a negative response.
• If there is a long pause or other non-verbal cues such as avoiding the eyes or evasive responses, you’ve probably just been told no.
• Rather than accept assurances or agreements on face value, ask for specifics. It can be difficult to get definite answers to questions if the response would be negative. Therefore, watch for evasions or half statements.

There are times when bad news must be given. That’s not a problem to the direct communicator, but presents a real challenge to the indirect communicator. In many Asian countries, bad news is handled by a third-party so that both sides can retain face. Negative questions are another interesting quirk of indirect communication since the response may differ depending upon which language is used.

• In response to the question “Isn’t this document ready?”, the English response would be “no”, meaning the document is not ready, while the Japanese response would be “yes”, meaning “yes, the document is not ready.”
• Russians often ask negative questions such as “Did you not know?”, so that the person responding may give a positive response to indicate a negative answer.

If you are from a culture with a more direct communication style, you may need to train your ear and mind to catch indirectness before responding to questions, or else your response may confuse the listener.

How do you ensure you’re getting the correct answer?

• Ask open-ended questions and ask the same question several ways (re-phrase) to make certain you understood the response.
• Learn to phrase questions so that the desired response is not obvious. Instead of asking, “Will the report be finished by Friday?” you might ask, “When will the report be finished?”

For those of us who have been raised in direct cultures, it is important that we learn to understand the signals we receive from indirect communicators. Otherwise, we create our own baffling towers of Babel.

Carrie
RW3 CultureWizard

This Mint.com infographic on tipping etiquette around the world has been circulating around the internet for the last few weeks. The link has spread through expat-related sites like wildfire.

Why?

Expats and foreign travelers want to be culturally sensitive to locally expected behavior norms. Tipping practices are different from city to city and country to country, and with so many nuances, it’s difficult to synthesize the information in an easily read format.

While I found the graphic interesting, it was a broad overview rather than an in-depth study of the topic. There’s so much more to know than just the amount to tip in a restaurant.

In Peru, you shouldn’t leave the tip on the table and should put the money directly into the waitperson’s hand. While in Russia, tips should be in cash, even when you pay with a credit card. In Colombia, wait staff will often ask in advance of bringing the bill if it’s ok to include the tip, which is generally 10%, making miscalculation a non-issue.

In some countries, if there’s a service charge, there’s no need to tip (e.g. Denmark and many Nordic countries). In others where a service charge is added to the bill, guests are still expected to leave a small sum. This is often the case in Latin and South America, France, Italy, South Korea and Spain. Then, there are the countries where the service charge goes to the government and tipping wait staff is expected, as in many Middle Eastern countries.

Sometimes the rules vary if you’re a local vs. an expat. Although locals do not tip in Cambodia, leaving a small amount can materially help out a waitperson’s family. In Japan, locals don’t tip, but even with the service charge, wait staff in certain establishments have begun to expect tips from foreigners.

In other countries, e.g. Egypt and India, the wait person may directly say you have not tipped sufficiently.

The same behavior can be interpreted differently across the globe. In Germany, patrons are expected to thank the waitperson, even if they left a tip. In Poland, if you thank the waitperson as you hand them the bill with cash, you’re inviting them to keep the change.

In Hungary, if you’re paying in cash, you should tell the waitperson how much you want to pay, not how much change you want back. This is the opposite of what you do in many other countries.

What interesting tipping practices and foibles have you encountered in your travels?

Carrie
RW3 CultureWizard

How many ways can you apologize in Japan? What is appropriate for various situations? Find out more about the delicate matter by watching this video!

When I made my first business trip to the Middle East in the mid-70s, I was told to cover myself head-to-toe. No need for an abaya, chador, cloak or hijab, but I should wear a full skirt that covered my knees (mid-calf or full-length would be even better) and my blouse should cover my elbow and fasten at the neck. If I chose to wear trousers, although not recommended, it was to be very loose.

With the obvious exception of Saudi Arabia, this conventional wisdom has remained the norm. Yet, even before the Arab Spring of 2011, the dress code for women had begun to change in several countries in the region.

Dressing modestly remains the goal. Form-fitting trousers, see-through blouses or tight T-shirts remain culturally insensitive. Most Middle Easterners make inferences about someone’s status by their clothing; dressing well denotes status in Middle Eastern cultures.

That the world becomes smaller every day is borne out by the changes in what women may successfully wear in the Middle East. Trousers have become increasingly fashionable in many countries as long as they aren’t form-fitting. They make it easier to sit without worrying about how much leg is exposed. In the office, trousers should cover the ankle.

If you’re traveling to Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Bahrain, your skirt can skim the top of your knee. However, and this is important, your skirt must be the same length when you sit down. So, pencil skirts are out, but full skirts and dirndl style skirts can often do the job.

In the same region, women can wear sleeveless blouses as long as they aren’t tight and the fabric isn’t revealing. The neckline must be modest (absolutely no cleavage).

Like most rules, there are exceptions. If your company policy allows clothing that may not be acceptable outside the office, it’s a good idea to keep a scarf with you, or carry a pashmina in case you have to meet with someone who is ultra conservative. These items can come in handy when you’re not at work and you don’t know the religious inclination of people on the street. The pashmina can also be a handy cover for your shoulders when the air-conditioning is set too high.

When visiting Iran and Saudi Arabia, women must cover their clothing with either an abaya or manteau and wear a headscarf. In Iran, the hijab should not allow any hair to show (for tips on how to accomplish this, check out the Role of Women article in the Iran Country Profile on CultureWizard). In Saudi Arabia, women should wear an abaya and headscarf. Outside Riyadh, the headscarf may often be omitted, although regulations vary by region and change frequently and without warning.

Carrie
RW3 CultureWizard

+ Unlike many other Latin American countries where there is a distinct indigenous population, Brazilians have intermarried to the point that nearly everyone has a combination of European, African, and indigenous ancestry.

+ Brazilian conversations are fast-paced and animated with frequent interruptions. Exclamations and a great deal of physical contact are normal.

+ Soccer is a highly respected national institution. Never say that another country plays soccer better than Brazil.

+ Appearances matters to Brazilians both in business and daily life. This includes dressing well and staying at the best hotel that your budget can accommodate.
- Men should wear conservative, dark-colored business suits. Lighter colored suits may be worn in the summer. Three-piece suits generally indicate that someone is an executive.
- Business attire for women is extremely important. Brazilian businesswomen generally wear elegant business suits or dresses with high quality accessories.

+ In doing business, much time is spent developing a friendly relationship. It will usually take several visits to close a deal as Brazilians need to know who they are doing business with before they can work together.

+ A foreign businessperson should learn as much about the Brazilian economic and commercial environment as possible before conducting business.

+ Status in Brazil is based more on educational and professional accomplishments than on family background.

+ By nature, Brazilians are future oriented, yet strongly fatalistic at the same time. They have strong religious beliefs but do not see themselves as having total control over their destiny.

- from RW3 CultureWizard’s Country Profiles

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While the source of this is unknown (we found it posted somewhere on Facebook), we believe it’s quite true to form! Is there anything you can add to this list?

If you’d like some more culture tips for the UK, click here to read our previous post on the matter.

Mark
RW3 CultureWizard

Interested in improving your Russian business skills? RW3′s Sean Dubberke contributed a cultural profile of Russia, including strategies for successful business, to MOBILITY magazine this month. Click here to read it online.

RW3 CultureWizard

The following culture tips will come in handy when doing business with France.

+ The French are private people and have different rules of behavior for people within their social circle and those who are not. Although the French are generally polite, it is with their close friends and family that they express themselves freely and openly.

+ A well-rounded education indicates status and breeding. It is a good idea to become familiar with French history and culture to impress French colleagues.

+ People who are well read and can speak intelligently about the arts are considered of a higher class.

+ As a general business rule, French people are more serious in demeanor and do not smile without a reason. Although most French businesspeople understand that smiling is more commonplace in many other cultures, they may be unimpressed by expressions of humor or over-familiarity.

+ Foreign businesswomen will be treated with the same courtesy and respect that French men afford all women. Well-dressed women generally receive courtly attention from French men, including appreciative glances or a compliment about their clothes.

+ The handshake is a common form of greeting. Friends may greet each other by lightly kissing on the cheeks. The number of kisses–one to four–varies according to the region.

+ The French have a great appreciation for the art of conversation. Their communication style is direct, often interlaced with probing questions. Therefore, it is important to present a logical argument and be able to approach the situation from multiple angles.

+ Heated discussion and negotiation are part of French communication. The French enjoy confrontational discussion and see them as an opportunity to demonstrate their intelligence and knowledge of the subject matter.

Key French Business Values

• Deadlines often viewed as guidelines
• Relationships are important , time invested to strengthen professional ties
• Trust is earned, not assumed
• Reason, logic, and analysis lead to business success
• Low tolerance for risk
• Skepticism and suspicion towards simple, quick solutions
• Rely on written reports and data
• Courtesy and good manners are important
• Eloquent communication highly valued
• Titles and honorifics are important

- from RW3′s CultureWizard™ Country Profiles

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Strategies for Success in India

• Intensive management is viewed, for the most part, as good management. As a manager, provide explicit instructions and guidance to your teams.
• Clarify anything with a written checklist and open-ended questions.
• Ask for input since many may be reluctant to provide unsolicited feedback. Be conscious to save face when asking challenging questions in front of a group.
• Ask for regular feedback and frequently follow up on tasks in order to maintain schedules and meet deadlines.
• Avoid asking questions that can be answered by a “yes” or “no”.
• Ask questions in several ways to ensure that the way the question was phrased did not impact the response
• Prepare several “what-if” scenarios to help drive change.

Key Business Values in India

• Respect for elders and authorities
• Trust is very important, and is developed through building strong relationships over time
• Preference to work collaboratively
• Family obligations may take precedence over work
• Preference to not give or receive bad news
• Avoidance of giving overt negative response
• Relationship-building activities may take precedence over meeting schedules and deadlines
• Reluctance to take undirected initiative

- from RW3′s CultureWizard® Pocket Guides, also available on CultureWizard Mobile

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Whether you’re an expatriate or business traveler, part of a global team with members in Vietnam or working with Vietnamese customers, the following culture tips will prove essential to your success:

+ If someone disagrees with what another person says, rather than disagree publicly, a Vietnamese person might simply remain silent.

+ The concept of face is extremely important to Vietnamese. Saying a direct no to someone may cause that person to lose face. Face may also be lost through a person’s own actions such as publicly displaying emotion, losing self-control, becoming intoxicated, or rescinding an order.

+ The teachings of Confucius have had a strong impact in modern Vietnamese society. Confucianism stresses duty, loyalty, honor, filial piety, respect for age and seniority, and sincerity.

+ Vietnamese are very conscious of age and status. Everyone has a distinct place in the hierarchy, be it the family unit, the extended family, a social or a business situation. Be aware of the implications of hierarchy when managing a Vietnamese workforce.

+ Vietnam has a high context, indirect communication style. As such, it is important not to accept what is said at face value because the Vietnamese generally do not express their opinions clearly, as is more common in Western countries.

+ It is quite common for Vietnamese to ask what would be considered personal questions in more Western cultures. Expect to be asked about your age, marital status, or how much something costs.

+ There is a very distinct generation gap among the Vietnamese. Quite often the political systems they have lived through shape a person’s viewpoint. These differences are more apparent in the north where the changes have been the greatest.

- from RW3′s CultureWizard™ Country Profiles

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Whether you’re an expatriate or business traveler, part of a global team with members in China or working with Chinese customers, the following culture tips will prove essential to your success:

+ Relationships: Close and trusted relationships are fundamental elements of Chinese society, and in fact, China has its own brand of relationships, called guanxi. Guanxi can also be expressed as a complex network of relationshps that is core to Chinese life (see this blog post on the topic for more background on guanxi).

+ Communication: The Chinese can be quite direct (even blunt) if there is an already established relationship and if the status of the speaker is higher. On the other hand, Chinese can also be quite indirect in their communication. They often imbed a surface exchange with alternate meaning to help maintain harmony between parties and avoid direct conflict or the potential loss of face.

+ Negotiation: Chinese negotiators may respond to a question with another question. This allows them time to think carefully about their response and spares them the possibility of saying something that might offend the other side. In general, vague responses are given frequently, since they help retain group harmony.

+ Risk Tolerance: The best way to get changes accepted and implemented is to provide information concerning previous successes and the benefits that can be achieved for the organization. In more traditional companies, the fear of exposure, and the potential of embarrassment that accompany failure, continues to bring about aversion to risk and the need to thoroughly examine potential negative implications.

With younger generations and those who have been educated outside of China, you will interact with people who are not fatalistic, but rather believe that China’s future (as well as their own) is boundless and full of potential.

However, you may often hear the phrase “Mei banfa“. Molded by years of communism, many Chinese who work in government offices and other highly bureaucratic entities may believe their destiny is not within their control. This attitude is best expressed by, “you try your best, but if things don’t work out the way you wish, what can you do?” – or “mei banfa“.

- from RW3′s CultureWizard™ Country Profiles

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+ The US is a nation of immigrants, comprised of people from diverse backgrounds and ethnic groups. Americans pride themselves on their individuality, their entrepreneurial attitude and a positive, optimistic outlook on life.

+ There are many stereotypes about the way people from different regions behave:

Southerners are known for their “Southern Hospitality.” They are generally polite, warm and friendly. They are also thought to appreciate a slower pace of life and are more relationship-focused than people from other parts of the country.

Texans exude self-confidence and are proud of the fact that they were once an independent country. They tend to be “larger than life” and often equate bigger with better.

West Coasters, or people from the west coast, are thought to be casual, free-spirited and liberal.

East Coasters are considered to be fast-paced, efficient, formal and comparatively conservative.

+ Americans can be superficially friendly when first meeting others. They may frequently say “hi” or “how are you?” to a lot of people, which is a sign of politeness and an egalitarian outlook. Remember, “how are you doing?” is usually a greeting, not necessarily a question.

+ When leaving a group, Americans may give a group wave or say farewell to everyone at once rather than to each person individually. This is an efficient way of departing, and in business settings a sign of the transactional nature of Americans.

+ From childhood, Americans are raised to see themselves as separate individuals who are the masters of their destiny. As such, they expect to be held accountable for their decisions. This can make them appear self-centered to people from less individualistic cultures. They may presume that people from other cultures feel the same way and may be surprised when they realize that people from other cultures are group- or community-oriented.

- from RW3′s CultureWizard™ Country Profiles

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+ Greeks are proud of their cultural heritage and their contribution to world civilization. A recent study found that Greeks’ pride in being Greek surpassed the ethnic satisfaction of all other European countries.

+ To a Greek, “philotimo” is similar to the Asian concept of face. It is an intangible quality that reflects a person’s reputation, dignity and prestige. Honor is everything to a Greek.

+ Greeks are spontaneously generous people, provided you do not offend them. They can be easily offended, for their pride matches their generosity. Therefore, they do not openly criticize, insult or put anyone on the spot.

+ Business is personal in Greece. As such, it is important to understand that exchanging favors is part of the business culture. If a Greek businessman feels sufficiently comfortable to ask you for a favor, it means he trusts you, which is necessary for successful business dealings.

+ As you might expect in a culture that appears spontaneous, Greeks often interrupt a speaker if they think that they understand what the person is saying. This conversational overlap is not rudeness, but merely the common communication style.

+ Greek businessmen will treat foreign businesswomen with the same courtesy and respect that they treat all women.

+ Women should expect attention and compliments from Greek men. While many businessmen are cosmopolitan, Greece remains a patriarchal culture. Men on the street may verbally show affection or make comments to women, believing such attention is flattering.

- from RW3′s CultureWizard® Country Profiles

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+ Known as the “Rainbow Nation,” South Africa’s government officially recognizes 11 languages: Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Pedi, Shangaan, Sotho, Tsona, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu. English is widely used for business purposes.
+ The concept of “African time” intimates flexibility and a relaxed approach to getting things done.
+ Two phrases frequently used in South Africa are “I will do it now now” and “I will do it just now.” Although they sound very similar, they are quite different. “I will do it now now” indicates that the task has a high priority, while “I will do it just now” means that the task has a lower priority and will be postponed.
+ South Africa is a high-context communication culture, which means people use non-verbal body language to enhance their spoken words. Be aware of this when understanding the messages your colleagues send you.
+ Greetings: shake hands with everyone upon arriving and upon leaving. Maintain eye contact while shaking hands and wait for a woman to extend her hand.
+ Because the country was closed to outside influences for many years, older Afrikaners who speak Afrikaans remain suspicious of anyone who might dilute their culture, including foreigners.
+ South Africa has a medium tolerance for change and risk. Changes are made, albeit slowly, and require considerable amount of thought, planning and evaluation. Be sure to factor this into your work and prepare thoughts to address any possible resistance.
+ In conversation, avoid making comparisons between South African cities. Most people are proud of their hometowns and may find your observations as a foreigner inappropriate.
+ Do not raise controversial subjects such as race relations or local politics. Also, Capetonians have a strong sense of proper decorum and view off-color humor as distasteful. Discretion is advised.

- from RW3′s CultureWizard® Country Profiles

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