Hai?

"Understanding does not mean agreement."

Unknown

Not in any language although it can be more of a challenge in some.

For example the Japanese have a tendency to say "hai" (yes) to what is being said to them.

At best their intent is "yes I heard you" not "yes I agree".

There is much, much more to communication than simply talking.

They're Not Laughing

"Humor is the first gift to perish in a foreign language."

Virginia Woolf

20th century British novelist

Because communication is as much if not more about the culture as it is the translation.

If you don't know one you don't know the other.

And if you don't know what I mean, I rest my case.

Now That's Different!

"It is superstitious to put one's hope in formalities, but arrogant to refuse to submit to them."

Blaise Pascal

17th century French mathematician, physicist, philosopher

I spend a lot of time working in Asia; Japan, Korea and China in particular, where social "formalities" are complex.

Accepting them is not only essential to success in business, doing so is also enjoyable.

The next time you encounter "formalities" different from what you are used to, give it a try. 

Besides being important for whatever you wish to do, you may just enjoy the experience.

Vive la Différence?

"Our greatest strength as a human race is our ability to acknowledge our differences, our greatest weakness is our failure to embrace them."

Judith Henderson
Author

"Embrace", "accept", "adopt" . . . all the same?

I don't think so and choose to substitute "learn from" for "embrace".

What about you?

Management: Knowing Enough Never Is

"My experience has shown me that the people who are exceptionally good in business aren’t so because of what they know but because of their insatiable need to know more."

Michael Gerber
Author

Unfortunately business rewards knowledge, penalizing lack of knowledge even in those cases where am attempt is being made to learn. We don't pay for potential; only performance. But if all of us have much to learn, and rest assured we do, isn't this back asswards?

How can we establish a culture that one, recognizes all managers need to continually learn, two, rewards those who admit they do and take steps to learn, while three, still meeting company performance targets?