When in Rome or Rio or Riyadh-- : Cultural Q & As for Successful Business Behavior Around the World

How does globalization directly affect you?More and more careers today involve interacting with other cultures. No longer limited to the ranks of top management, this cross-cultural contact is affecting workers of all levels. From the technician on the factory floor to the customer service representative to the CEO, all of us can be in direct daily contact with someone from another culture, and this could create conflict. Author Gwyneth Olofsson takes on these work-related intercultural issues and offers practical advice in her book, When in Rome or Rio or Riyadh.Cultural Q&As for Successful Business Behavior Around the World.Drawing on sixteen years of cultural training and business consulting, Olofsson has collected the cultural questions her students and business trainees have asked most and compiled them in brief, to-the-point letters and answers. Largely drawn from her column in Volvo's magazine, Global, she shares answers to burning questions on topics best related to the thirty-three countries with the largest gross domestic product-those where businesspeople are most likely to be.Olofsson uses each specific cultural question as a springboard to explore cultural commonalities and differences. She also provides Global Warnings for topics that are particularly sensitive in certain cultures. After each section of the book, she provides the fundamental cultural characteristics of each of these countries and points out the similarities among them. When in Rome or Rio or Riyadh is a compelling, easy-to-use guide for anyone who wants to avoid being blindsided by a cultural misstep.As always, Gwyneth Olofsson gives her guidance on how to behave, dress, speak or write in a way everyone can understand. When in Rome or Rio or Riyadh. will come in handy every time you go on a business trip abroad, wherever your destination happens to be. Business people everywhere should have this book in their possession.-Christina Eide, Vice President, Volvo Information Technology AB At last, a truly practical guide for the international business executive on how to survive and prosper in different cultures! This book should be in the 'essentials' kit of all who travel for work-or for pleasure.- Michael Pitfield, Director of International Business, Henley Management College When in Rome, or Rio, or Riyadh... takes a fresh new approach to the essential work of building intercultural awareness, sensitivity and skills. With her creative use of letters from thirty-three different countries, author Gywneth Olofsson brings to the reader an astonishing array of cross-cultural conundrums, which she solves with clarity, insight and humor. Where intercultural works have in the past tended either to resemble travel guides or, at the other extreme, ponderous academic treatises, Ms. Olofsson's book promises the reader an illuminating, highly readable journey into the world of cross-cultural interactions that is at once informative and wonderfully entertaining. -Charles Bergman, Director, Asia-Pacific Meridian Resources Associates When in Rome or Rio or Riyadh. is a most useful book for business travelers in the 21st Century. It gives many useful tips, thanks to which I now understand (possibly too late) some of the mistakes I have made in the past. -Philippe Divry, Senior Vice-President Renault VI Powertrain Division When in Rome. is a winning combination of very useful practical advice and extremely valuable cultural insights. The letters format is very engaging. And Ms. Olofsson turns out to be a fine, amusing writer; you end up reading more than you meant to, just to linger in her company.-Craig Storti, Director, Communicating Across Cultures and author, Art of Crossing Cultures, Cross-Cultural Dialogues, Figuring Foreigners Out and Speaking of IndiaI read When in Rome or Rio or Riyadh with my daughter, and despite the fact that she is a university student and I'm a managing director, we both appreciated the true value of this book. As the number of people who work and travel internationally is increasing rapidly, we all need a book like this - well-structured, down-to-earth and helpful. -Pavel Baranov, Managing Director VSM Group, Moscow Ms Olofsson's experience as a language and intercultural consultant shines through the pages. With a combination of humor, honesty and an ability to understand some of the more idiosyncratic features of different national cultures, she has provided a text which should become essential reading for anyone hoping to do business abroad, and indeed anyone seeking to understand better people from other cultures. -Mel Read, MEP European Parliament, East Midlands, UK When in Rome or Rio or Riyadh. is a delightful book to read. It combines deep insights into common everyday cross-cultural experiences with an engaging-almost visceral-style of narration. Though it offers practical tips in Q&A format, it is not just another cultural etiquette book; reading this book is like taking a perceptive journey, flitting across more than thirty countries. Ms. Olofsson has succeeded in giving a new depth and meaning to those day-to-day points of contact to a new culture-e.g., names, making conversation, working day, table talk, relating, etc.-which form the crux of cross-cultural experience and interaction.-Dr. Madhukar Shukla Professor of OB & Strategic Management Xavier Labour Relations Institute, Jamshedpur, IndiaContentsCountry-by-Country ContentsIntroductionPart I: The First Steps1 Getting Acquainted2 Making a Good Impression3 Eating and Drinking TogetherPart II: Understanding Each Other4 Communication and Language5 TimePart III: Working Together6 Personal Profiles7 Our Roles and Relationships8 Work in a Wider PerspectiveBibliography Acknowledgments......Page 6 Contents......Page 8 Country-by-Country Contents......Page 10 Introduction......Page 22 Part I - The First Steps......Page 36 Chap 1 - Getting Acquainted......Page 38 Names and Address......Page 40 Letter 1 - Which Name?......Page 42 Letter 2 - Given or family name?......Page 43 Letter 4 - What's your patronymic?......Page 44 Letter 5 - How formal?......Page 45 Letter 6 - How informal?......Page 46 Letter 7 - Mr. Haji?......Page 47 Letter 8 - Oh dear!......Page 48 Letter 9 - His or Hers?......Page 49 In a Nutshell: Names and Address......Page 50 Meetings and Greetings......Page 54 Letter 11 - Small talk—small mind?......Page 56 Letter 12 - Bone-crunchers......Page 57 Letter 13 - A whole lot of shaking.........Page 58 Letter 14 - Bow and bow again?......Page 59 Letter 15 - Kiss kiss......Page 60 In a Nutshell: Meetings and Greetings......Page 61 Business Cards......Page 64 Letter 17 - ...and how......Page 66 Letter 18 - Showing off?......Page 67 Letter 19 - Print in Polish?......Page 68 Letter 20 - Soft focus......Page 69 In a Nutshell: Business Cards......Page 70 Chap 2 - Making a Good Impression......Page 74 Dress......Page 76 Letter 21 Uniform informality?......Page 78 Letter 22 - Trousered Amazons?......Page 79 Letter 23 - Porker problem......Page 80 Letter 24 Where wear white?......Page 81 Letter 25 - Scruffy trousers......Page 82 Letter 26 - Unpopular uniform......Page 83 Letter 27 - Removing shoes......Page 84 In a Nutshell: Dress......Page 85 Manners......Page 88 Letter 29 - American miss?......Page 90 Letter 30 - Just too loud?......Page 92 Letter 31 - Horror, shock!......Page 93 Letter 33 - ...or too tired?......Page 94 Letter 34 - Yuck... no thanks!......Page 95 Letter 35 - To queue or not to queue?......Page 96 In a Nutshell: Manners......Page 97 Socializing......Page 100 Letter 36 - Karaoke complex......Page 102 Letter 38 - No go go-cart......Page 103 Letter 39 - Generosity requires reciprocity......Page 104 Letter 40 - Business or pleasure?......Page 105 In a Nutshell: Socializing......Page 107 Gift Giving......Page 110 Letter 41 - Beautiful booze......Page 113 Letter 43 - Holiday goodies?......Page 114 Letter 44 - Thank you all.........Page 115 Letter 45 - For me? You shouldn't have.........Page 116 Letter 46 - Reconsider?......Page 117 Letter 47 - Present or bribery?......Page 118 In a Nutshell: Gift Giving......Page 119 Chap 3 - Eating and Drinking Together......Page 124 Food......Page 126 Letter 48 - Acceptable to all?......Page 128 Letter 49 - Forecastng fasting......Page 129 Letter 51 - Sweet temptation......Page 130 In a Nutshell: Food......Page 131 Drink......Page 134 Letter 53 - Pub etiquette......Page 136 Letter 55 - The sober truth......Page 138 Letter 56 - Drink until you drop......Page 139 Letter 57 - Still Puritans?......Page 140 In a Nutshell: Drink......Page 141 Mealtimes......Page 145 Letter 59 - Choosing chopsticks......Page 147 Letter 61 - Table talk......Page 148 Letter 62 - foreign formalities......Page 149 Letter 63 - Under starter's orders.........Page 150 Letter 64 - ... and they're off!......Page 151 Letter 65 - No tipping?......Page 152 Letter 66- Going Dutch......Page 153 In a Nutshell: Mealtimes......Page 154 Part II - Understanding Each Other......Page 158 Chap 4 - Communication and Language......Page 160 What to Say and How to Say It......Page 162 Letter 67 - Asking questions......Page 164 Letter 68 - He asked what?......Page 165 Letter 69 - Communication stop......Page 166 Letter 70 Communication breakdown......Page 167 Letter 71 - A major error......Page 168 Letter 72 - No no......Page 169 Letter 74 - Patronizing Pommie......Page 170 Letter 75- Just making conversation......Page 171 Letter 76 - Rude, or just informal?......Page 172 Letter 77 Let me finish!......Page 173 Letter 78 - Struck dumb......Page 174 Letter 79 - Small talk versus silence......Page 175 Letter 80 - Political correctness......Page 176 In a Nutshell: What to say and how to say it......Page 177 A Global Language?......Page 180 Letter 81- Rude writers......Page 182 Letter 82- Thin skin......Page 183 Letter 83 - One country—two languages......Page 184 Letter 84 - One country—several languages......Page 185 Letter 85 - British versus U.S. English......Page 186 Letter 86- "International English" for presentations......Page 187 Letter 87 - Sensitive speakers sought......Page 188 Letter 88- Language mistake......Page 189 Letter 89 - Interpreters......Page 190 In a Nutshell: A Global Language......Page 191 Body Language......Page 194 Letter 90 - Nodding......Page 196 Letter 92 - Eye contact......Page 197 Letter 93 - Offensive gestures......Page 198 Letter 94 - Physical taboos......Page 199 Letter 95 - No response......Page 200 Letter 96 - Space "bubble"......Page 201 In a Nutshell: Body Language......Page 202 Chap 5 - Time......Page 206 Calendars and Holidays......Page 208 Letter 97 - Check your Chinese calendar......Page 210 Letter 98 - Writing the date......Page 211 Letter 100 - Working over weekends......Page 212 In a Nutshell: Calendars and Holidays......Page 213 The Working Day......Page 217 Letter 102 - Breakfast meetings......Page 219 Letter 103 - Prayers at work......Page 220 Letter 104 - No planning possible......Page 221 Letter 105 - Leaving so early?......Page 222 Letter 106 - working overtime......Page 223 In a Nutshell: The Working Day......Page 224 Attitudes toward Time......Page 227 Letter 107 - Deadline delays......Page 229 Letter 108 - Sacred timetable......Page 230 Letter 109 - Punctuality first, friendship second......Page 231 Letter 110 - Long term versus short term......Page 232 Letter 111 - No focus......Page 233 Letter 112 - Time and status......Page 234 In a Nutshell: Attitudes toward Time......Page 236 Part III - Working Together......Page 240 Chap 6 - Personal Profiles......Page 242 Gender......Page 244 Letter 113 - Negative reaction?......Page 246 Letter 114 - Bathroom blues......Page 247 Letter 115 - Working women......Page 248 Letter 116 - Desparate measures......Page 249 Letter 117 - Sex and the single girl......Page 250 Letter 118 - Not my intention......Page 251 In a Nutshell: Gender......Page 252 Age......Page 257 Letter 119 - Generation gap......Page 259 Letter 120 - Don't ask......Page 260 Letter 121 - Age a handicap?......Page 261 Letter 123 - Can't treat people like this......Page 262 Letter 124 - How old is he?......Page 263 In a Nutshell: Age......Page 264 Ethnicity and Nationality......Page 266 Letter 125 - Nationality as a problem......Page 269 Letter 126 - Joint identity......Page 270 Letter 127 - "People of color"......Page 271 Letter 129 - Religious requirements......Page 272 Letter 130 - An excuse for laziness......Page 273 In a Nutshell: Ethnicity and Nationality......Page 274 Chap 7 - Our Roles and Relationships......Page 280 Leaders and Managers......Page 282 Letter 131 - Language skills......Page 285 Letter 132 - Family influence......Page 286 Letter 133 - Not a graduate!......Page 287 Letter 134 - Lets himself down......Page 288 Letter 135 - Yes boss, no boss......Page 289 Letter 137 - Tell us what to do......Page 290 Letter 138 - No clear structure......Page 291 In a Nutshell: Leaders and Managers......Page 292 Working in Organizations......Page 296 Letter 139 - A cog in the machine......Page 298 Letter 140 - Work-life balance......Page 299 Letter 141 - Control freaks?......Page 300 Letter 142 - Why won't they do as we say?......Page 302 Letter 143 - no help from HQ......Page 303 Letter 144 - Teamwork doesn't come naturally......Page 304 In a Nutshell: Working in Organizations......Page 305 Personal Relationships in Business......Page 308 Letter 145 - Business backslide......Page 311 Letter 146 - Too dependent......Page 312 Letter 147 - The role of personality......Page 313 Letter 148 - False friendliness......Page 314 Letter 150 - Why a lawyer?......Page 315 Letter 151 - Don't judge us......Page 316 Letter 152 - Before you start......Page 317 In a Nutshell: Personal Relationships in Business......Page 318 Chap 8 - Work in a Wider Perspective......Page 322 Priorities......Page 325 Letter 153 - Who to sack?......Page 327 Letter 154 - Family first......Page 328 Letter 155 - Better job......Page 329 Letter 156 - Written or spoken?......Page 330 In a Nutshell: Priorities......Page 331 Ethics......Page 334 Letter 159 - Outright dishonesty......Page 337 Letter 160 - Is this bribery?......Page 338 Letter 161- Blood Suckers......Page 339 In a Nutshell: Ethics......Page 341 Assumptions......Page 344 Letter 163 - Trust them......Page 347 Letter 164 - Lack of respect......Page 348 Letter 165 - Not in the mood......Page 349 Letter 166 - Management by walking about......Page 350 Letter 167 - Compromise = weakness?......Page 351 Letter 168 - No news is good news......Page 352 Letter 169 - Where's their inititative?......Page 353 In a Nutshell: Assumptions......Page 354 Bibliography......Page 358 Once people from diverse cultures start to work together, unexpected and puzzling behavior patterns can crop up. Suddenly things can go wrong an no one knows why! Now Gwyneth Olofsson takes on these work-related intercultural issues and offers practical advice in her new book, When in Rome or Rio or Riyadh. After sixteen years of cultural training and business consulting, Olofsson has collected the cultural questions her students and business trainees have asked her and compiled them in brief, to-the-point letters and answers. Largely drawn from her column in Volvo's magazine, Global, she shares answers to burning questions on topics best related to the 33 countries with the largest gross domestic product-those where businesspeople are most likely to be. Olofsson uses each specific cultural question as a springboard to explore cultural commonalities and differences. She also provides "Global Warnings" for topics that are particularly sensitive in certain cultures. And, she's made the book easy to navigate with a country-specific index at the front of the book.Whether searching for the answer to a specific cultural question (such as making a good impression) or understanding a specific area of the world (such as Belgium or Indonesia), the reader can locate the information quickly through this index. For nearly twenty years, Gwyneth Olofsson has been helping people avoid the cultural gaffes that plague travelers to new cultures. Over the years, her colleagues and acquaintances have come to her for advice about living and working in a wide variety of new situations. Her answers -- in letters and e-mails -- are now an essential guide for businesspeople and professionals working outside their own culture. She coaches the business traveler on important cultural issues, many that can easily go awry: getting acquainted, making a good impression, eating and drinking together, understanding diverse rules of time, discussing ethics and politics in the workplace, and many, many more. When in Rome or Rio or Riyadh... is a sweeping, comprehensive guide for conducting business in the world's largest economies, from Australia to Venezuela, from India to Turkey, from Hong Kong to Mexico, and every major economy in between. With thoughtfulness and candor, humor and compassion, Gwyneth Olofsson elevates the cross-cultural experience to its best. In the course of 16 years of cultural consulting, Gwyneth Olofsson has received thousands of letters, faxes and e-mails asking for advice on deciphering the confusing customs of colleagues and customers from other cultures. The result is a comprehensive selection of those queries and her insightful replies. She has chosen the topics best related to the 33 countries with the largest gross domestic product--those in which business is likely to be done. Offers advice about cultural issues in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, and Venezuela