The Empty Train
The empty train crept down the track,
It slid into the station.
Eight coaches long, from front to back,
It raised our expectations.
It paused, then rolled reluctantly
Towards the eight-coach mark.
We raised our heads expectantly
But every coach was dark.
Unlit inside, unwashed outside,
A nightmare, not a dream,
The prospect of a grisly ride,
Unlike the age of steam.
It shuddered, squealed, then suddenly
It picked up speed once more,
And scorning us quite openly,
It opened not one door.
The people stood and watched it go
In silent resignation,
Their Monday morning spirits low –
Commuters know their station.
Sunday, 28 June 2009
10 Tips On Using Business Cards
1. Exchanging business cards should ALWAYS be done with respect and decorum, whichever country you are in. It is so easy to make a cultural gaffe.
2. In Asia, offering and receiving cards is a very formal ceremony and, in a formal meeting, the cards are kept on display during the meeting. It is a good idea to place the cards you receive in a pattern that corresponds to where each person is seated, so that you can use the correct name.
3. In Asia, never casually offer your card with just one hand. Hold your card with both hands when you give it, and bow slightly.
4. Always pass it the right way up so the other person can read it immediately. This shows consideration for the other person.
5. Show respect when you receive a card by using both hands. Especially in the Far East. Look at it, study it, then put it away or on the table carefully. Do not put it into your back (hip) pocket. (Equally, do not offer an Oriental a card taken from your wallet in your back pocket.)
6. Don't write on other people's business cards
7. The Japanese like photographs on cards. These are beginning to become common in the US and UK. It is worth putting your photo on your own card -- using the same photograph as you might have opn your website.
8. Many US/UK companies are dispensing with job titles, as they are considered unnecessary. However, titles are very important in most other cultures, so use them when abroad. They signify seniority and status, both of which are important in many countries.
9. Have supplementary information or a translation on the reverse side of your card.
10. Your card represents you, so don't use tatty or out-of-date ones. Your card conveys an impression of who you are, and is the main impression that remains when you have left.
2. In Asia, offering and receiving cards is a very formal ceremony and, in a formal meeting, the cards are kept on display during the meeting. It is a good idea to place the cards you receive in a pattern that corresponds to where each person is seated, so that you can use the correct name.
3. In Asia, never casually offer your card with just one hand. Hold your card with both hands when you give it, and bow slightly.
4. Always pass it the right way up so the other person can read it immediately. This shows consideration for the other person.
5. Show respect when you receive a card by using both hands. Especially in the Far East. Look at it, study it, then put it away or on the table carefully. Do not put it into your back (hip) pocket. (Equally, do not offer an Oriental a card taken from your wallet in your back pocket.)
6. Don't write on other people's business cards
7. The Japanese like photographs on cards. These are beginning to become common in the US and UK. It is worth putting your photo on your own card -- using the same photograph as you might have opn your website.
8. Many US/UK companies are dispensing with job titles, as they are considered unnecessary. However, titles are very important in most other cultures, so use them when abroad. They signify seniority and status, both of which are important in many countries.
9. Have supplementary information or a translation on the reverse side of your card.
10. Your card represents you, so don't use tatty or out-of-date ones. Your card conveys an impression of who you are, and is the main impression that remains when you have left.
Friday, 12 June 2009
20 Tips on international business etiquette
A Japanese proverb says...
If you are fortunate to have the enjoyable experience
of eating something new,your life will be lengthened
by seventy-five years.
1. For many cultures part of the business deal is being an excellent host.
2. In many countries, it is customary for the host to be modest and humble; he will give apologies for inferior food etc.
3. Some cultures' greetings are 'Have you eaten (rice)?' (= How are you?)
4. Offer Koreans food 3 times: they will refuse twice and accept the third time!
5. A warm or cold wet towel, an 'oshibori', is often given to cleanse your hands. It's acceptable for men to wipe their faces with it. (Japanese restaurants rarely have napkins).
6. ALWAYS try the food you are offered. They say in Greece, you must always accept the alcohol you are given in a business meeting!!!!
7. As an honoured guest, you will be offered the most special delicacies. Unfortunately, there will be times when you think they aren't! Consider carefully your reaction - a refusal may be interpreted as an insult.
8. Some cultures, like the Japanese, have turned dining into an art form. Take care to appreciate the food you are offered in whatever culture you are in.
9. Far East - no one can leave before the guest of honour.
10. In the US, as in the UK, it is courteous to ACCEPT compliments and always polite to give compliments with 'gusto'. A simple 'Thank you' is usually enough when receiving a compliment.
11. In the Far East, humility is a virtue. It is courteous to deny compliments graciously; avoid extending excessive compliments.
12. Keep track of all favours done for you, to reciprocate in the future
13. It's an honour to be invited to play golf by your Japanese host.
14. It's an honour to be invited to the home of a Spaniard or an Arab.
15. It is generally considered good manners, in any culture, for a host to escort visitors as they leave; the distance depends on the relationship - obviously a very senior person doesn't escort a junior one very far. In Japan, a host will watch until his visitor has pulled away in the car/bus, or is out of sight.
16. For many nations, tipping is an essential part of the economy. As a guide, never tip in egalitarian societies like Finland and Iceland. Tip in societies where there are great differences in social standing. It is often better to tip a little bit every meal/day than do it 'all in one go' at the end of your stay.
17. Don't start your business presentation with a joke unless you are certain this is acceptable. Many cultures believe it shows disrespect and demeans the event.
18. Avoid touching your face with the same hand that you then offer in greeting.
19. Do not keep your business cards in your hip pocket, especially when dealing with Orientals.
20. Treat the other person's business card with respect: receive it with both hands, study it for a moment, and keep it it view during your meeting. Don't write on it.
If you are fortunate to have the enjoyable experience
of eating something new,your life will be lengthened
by seventy-five years.
1. For many cultures part of the business deal is being an excellent host.
2. In many countries, it is customary for the host to be modest and humble; he will give apologies for inferior food etc.
3. Some cultures' greetings are 'Have you eaten (rice)?' (= How are you?)
4. Offer Koreans food 3 times: they will refuse twice and accept the third time!
5. A warm or cold wet towel, an 'oshibori', is often given to cleanse your hands. It's acceptable for men to wipe their faces with it. (Japanese restaurants rarely have napkins).
6. ALWAYS try the food you are offered. They say in Greece, you must always accept the alcohol you are given in a business meeting!!!!
7. As an honoured guest, you will be offered the most special delicacies. Unfortunately, there will be times when you think they aren't! Consider carefully your reaction - a refusal may be interpreted as an insult.
8. Some cultures, like the Japanese, have turned dining into an art form. Take care to appreciate the food you are offered in whatever culture you are in.
9. Far East - no one can leave before the guest of honour.
10. In the US, as in the UK, it is courteous to ACCEPT compliments and always polite to give compliments with 'gusto'. A simple 'Thank you' is usually enough when receiving a compliment.
11. In the Far East, humility is a virtue. It is courteous to deny compliments graciously; avoid extending excessive compliments.
12. Keep track of all favours done for you, to reciprocate in the future
13. It's an honour to be invited to play golf by your Japanese host.
14. It's an honour to be invited to the home of a Spaniard or an Arab.
15. It is generally considered good manners, in any culture, for a host to escort visitors as they leave; the distance depends on the relationship - obviously a very senior person doesn't escort a junior one very far. In Japan, a host will watch until his visitor has pulled away in the car/bus, or is out of sight.
16. For many nations, tipping is an essential part of the economy. As a guide, never tip in egalitarian societies like Finland and Iceland. Tip in societies where there are great differences in social standing. It is often better to tip a little bit every meal/day than do it 'all in one go' at the end of your stay.
17. Don't start your business presentation with a joke unless you are certain this is acceptable. Many cultures believe it shows disrespect and demeans the event.
18. Avoid touching your face with the same hand that you then offer in greeting.
19. Do not keep your business cards in your hip pocket, especially when dealing with Orientals.
20. Treat the other person's business card with respect: receive it with both hands, study it for a moment, and keep it it view during your meeting. Don't write on it.
Thursday, 11 June 2009
Why Speaking Louder and Slower Does Not Work
"Every country has its way of saying things. The importance is that which lies behind peoples' words."
Freya Stark: 'The Journeys Echo'
To understand what lies behind the words of someone from another culture, you need cultural adaptability.
In some eastern cultures it is unsophisticated to show surprise. Someone raised that way will respond very coolly to dramatic news, let alone ordinary conversation. A westerner may well imagine that he is not 'getting through', or that the easterner has not understood. The westerner is used to his listeners responding with 'Really'? and 'Oh ah!' and nods of agreement throughout the exchange, and he is uncomfortable when his oriental listener merely nods at the end to indicate, 'Message received and understood'.
We all process information differently, and the way we do so is reflected in the language we use. However, it is important to remember which came first, the mental processes or the language. Clearly, language followed the mental processes. Or rather, the way a nation uses its language indicates how its people think. The English language, for example, can be used in more ways than one. Brits and Americans use the active voice, direct speech and action verbs. The people of Malawi tend to speak and write in the passive voice, third person, and indirect speech. The Arabs have a similar approach. Same language, different attitudes.
In communicating with other cultures, cultural adaptability is more important than language skills. You need a strong willingness to understand what it is that causes the people of another culture to think and behave the way they do. You need to 'tune in'. Cultural adaptability is about switching your communication style to facilitate understanding or to make it easier to work together. You may need to accept that other cultures need time to consider what you say before agreeing or accepting. It may strike you as resistance or even discourtesy, but it may only be the normal response in their culture.
Speaking louder and slower will only make things worse.
PKP
Freya Stark: 'The Journeys Echo'
To understand what lies behind the words of someone from another culture, you need cultural adaptability.
In some eastern cultures it is unsophisticated to show surprise. Someone raised that way will respond very coolly to dramatic news, let alone ordinary conversation. A westerner may well imagine that he is not 'getting through', or that the easterner has not understood. The westerner is used to his listeners responding with 'Really'? and 'Oh ah!' and nods of agreement throughout the exchange, and he is uncomfortable when his oriental listener merely nods at the end to indicate, 'Message received and understood'.
We all process information differently, and the way we do so is reflected in the language we use. However, it is important to remember which came first, the mental processes or the language. Clearly, language followed the mental processes. Or rather, the way a nation uses its language indicates how its people think. The English language, for example, can be used in more ways than one. Brits and Americans use the active voice, direct speech and action verbs. The people of Malawi tend to speak and write in the passive voice, third person, and indirect speech. The Arabs have a similar approach. Same language, different attitudes.
In communicating with other cultures, cultural adaptability is more important than language skills. You need a strong willingness to understand what it is that causes the people of another culture to think and behave the way they do. You need to 'tune in'. Cultural adaptability is about switching your communication style to facilitate understanding or to make it easier to work together. You may need to accept that other cultures need time to consider what you say before agreeing or accepting. It may strike you as resistance or even discourtesy, but it may only be the normal response in their culture.
Speaking louder and slower will only make things worse.
PKP
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