- I'm sorry. Did I
say Americans? If I was facilitating in Ecuador or Costa Rica, I'd better
choose my words carefully! US citizens are not the only "Americans."
A better choice might have been, "North Americans."
- Speaking of language,
many idiomatic sayings are regional, so avoid them with groups not fluent
in American English. If you say you want to "break the ice,"
someone might bring you ice for your water!
- If the session involves
interpreters, speak slowly to allow for translations. Even if English
is a second language, it might be British English. I once required two
interpreters in rural Rajasthan to decipher my Bronx accent.
- When you introduce
yourself it's helpful to know some greetings in the host language. This
will help the group warm up to you, even if you can't get the pronunciation
correct. In fact, I found that many in the group enjoy teaching you their
language.
- Acknowledge and
thank the key people in the room. If you're motivated to share past experiences,
be conservative if it involves several places of employment. While in
the US it's almost expected that you introduce yourself with a verbal
resume, in places like Japan, for instance, your company loyalty might
be questioned!
- Don't presume it's
okay to "deal" your business cards around the table. In the
Orient, Middle East, and other places, the business card is treated with
respect. If you're in Beijing or South Korea, for instance, offer your
card with both hands as if presenting a gift. They will often do the same
in turn. Don't just tuck their card into your pocket either. Stop and
look at it carefully, and compliment it.
- In many places it's
very important to learn names. Although names you aren't familiar with
are difficult to remember, some non-Westerners Anglicize their names.
For example, Liu Zeng-Yuan (Chinese) might introduce himself as "John
Liu." It can be helpful to politely ask, "Do you use any other
versions of your name?" That's a culturally sensitive way to query
for such Anglicized versions.
- In the US, we commonly
use first names to be unpresumptuous. In some countries, it's expected
that you address by title (doctor, engineer, etc.), even if they are duplicates!
For instance, if Dr. Braun has two Ph.D's, he might expect to be addressed
as "Dr. Dr. Braun."
- Avoid getting drawn
into hot political topics. I once referred to Haifa, Israel, and was admonished
that Haifa was not in Israel, but in Palestine. You can find similar sovereignty
issues almost anywhere. Avoid discussing the war in Iraq and US foreign
policy. It will surely come up in many places. You can respond to such
queries with something like, "The world's international problems
are best handled through international cooperation." Such neutral
responses can help keep you out of disfavor even before your facilitation
begins!
- But why be concerned
with politics, names, titles, and war issues? Isn't it our job to just
facilitate? Well, that too depends on the place. Some groups will expect
for you to take the time to get to truly know them.
- Dutch social scientist
Geert Hofstede categorized culture by "power distance." A culture
with "high" power distance expects leaders (e.g., facilitators)
to lead, and not to blend in with the group. The latter would be taken
as a sign of your inability to lead. If you feel that power distance is
high, position yourself in front of the group to help express your status
as facilitator/group leader. This has implications for dress too. In high
power distance groups you should dress as a "leader." In low
power distance groups, you might roll up your sleeves and sit amongst
the members.
- Be careful who you
sit next to. Hofstede also categorized culture by "masculinity."
High masculinity refers to strong differentiation between genders, and
low masculinity the opposite. In the US you might not think twice about
randomly dividing groups into smaller breakouts, or sitting next to someone
of the opposite gender. But in India and other places, if you mix men
and women participants, your group dynamics will probably be undermined.
- And that's just
a primer. Every place is different and every person is unique. But before
you facilitate overseas do your homework! Ask for advice from host country
nationals or those familiar with the place you're traveling to. There
are good resources available on the web too. www.executiveplanet.com covers
the basics.
- Wherever you go,
the most important thing you can bring is a smile and your good nature.
Courtesy is a universal in all places, and it's good to know that most
ignorance will be overlooked when the group likes you.
About
the Author. Don
Plunkett lives with his wife and two children in New York. Don consults
internationally, owns a commercial lighting company, is Adjunct Professor
of graduate business at the City University of New York, and lectures
and writes on topics including group decision-making, fighting corruption
in industry, and education. For more information visit www.UnitedConsultation.com
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