April Yacoub

If you thought seating arrangements only mattered for wedding receptions or banquets, think again. Seating arrangements and related protocols are not arbitrary in any country. Even within a country, the significance given to seating varies by region, industry, company, and event. In countries where hierarchy plays a critical role, not abiding by the protocols can make or break a business deal.

“People or process” is a point of contention when working across cultures. It is easy for process-driven cultures to focus on the task at hand and work with people to achieve the desired goal, and then move on to the next task with a different set of people. People-oriented cultures find it difficult to work with people they do not know. So, they make every attempt to get to know the people first or work with people they know, and continue the bonding even after the task is completed.

What does politeness mean to you? Have you ever wondered if the other person thinks you’re as polite as you think you are? These questions may seem too basic for you. However, they become important when dealing with people from other countries. I traveled 10,000 miles from the United States to India to learn an expensive lesson. I was conducting a cross-cultural training in India on a topic close to my heart: working with the United States.