Working through Language, Time and Cultural Differences

Bridge the international communication gaps
by Karen N. Johnson - InformIT.com
[ Commentary by Meryl K. Evans, Editor ]

One hundred percent of my clients are from outside of Texas, where I'm located. Some are located in another country. So being aware of time zone differences is standard for me. The Internet and technology erase many boundaries so we can interact with people all over the world. It wouldn't surprise me that if schools make language, time and cultural differences a part of the curriculum so students know how to deal with others different from them.
 
 A person I know interviewed for a job with a company with many Korean managers. He happened to know about a Korean culture trait — handing and receiving business cards with two hands. So when they exchanged cards, he used two hands … and got the job.

This article provides tools and resources for working with these differences. While it isn't easy to learn about the many differences, keeping this in mind when situations come up improves your chances of business success since you're careful to avoid the things that offend and do the things that make others happy.