Cultural Sensitivity Is a Must! By Elgin Ward. CAUCUS , Executive Director
Every country/culture has rules and laws that need to be learned and obeyed. Violating a law, like jaywalking, might result in only a small fine. But, even a minor infraction might have cultural significance and adversely affect a business relationship and ones ability to negotiate.
An old saying is, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do!” How important is this in international negotiations?
Years ago when I was in Japan, I was walking to a meeting along with a Japanese colleague. We worked for the same organization.
As we walked along, we came to some railroad tracks. Thinking we could save some time by walking directly across the tracks rather than using the marked pedestrian crossing which would have taken us further out of our way, I walked straight across the tracks. There were no trains in the area and it seemed perfectly safe in every way.
My Japanese colleague was very offended by my action. Later I learned that my action was illegal and might have resulted in a fine (likely not a very large fine).
I later learned that jaywalking and other unauthorized crossings would be viewed by my Japanese colleague, as well as by other Japanese, as a show of disrespect to his country and his people. That day I lost some respect in the eyes of an important colleague which directly and adversely affected our working relationship. It took me sometime to regain that respect.
I learned that different cultures and countries can view things very differently. What seemed to me to be minor or trivial and, at worst, could incur no more than a small fine, turned out to be something of major consequence in a cultural context – and to have a significant, adverse impact on an important working relationship.
3 KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Every country/culture has rules and laws that need to be learned and obeyed.
- Violating a law, like jaywalking, might result in only a small fine.
- But, even a minor infraction might have cultural significance and adversely affect a business relationship and ones ability to negotiate