| If your business requires you to travel internationally, | | | | Asian cultures it is considered distracting, a sort of |
| or meet regularly with people of other countries, are | | | | meaningless chatter. Your best chance of having your |
| you aware of what your gestures and body language | | | | speech or presentation have worldwide appeal is to |
| are communicating? We all know that different | | | | keep your arm movements to a minimum.Keep your |
| cultures have different gestures and different levels | | | | distance, maybe - Knowing what is expected in the |
| of comfort with certain body language, but do you | | | | culture you're visiting or working with is important. For |
| know the specifics for the nationalities you deal with? | | | | instance, in the UK, Canada and the US, we're most |
| You should, as your trustworthiness and credibility | | | | comfortable with somewhere around 18-24 inches |
| may be at stake. Here are a few tips to remember | | | | distance between us when we talk. In other parts of |
| about your body language in your next international | | | | Europe, they prefer to be a bit closer, about 14-16 |
| meeting.Don't use "signs" with your hands- You may | | | | inches difference. In Asian countries, they like even |
| have no idea what your commonly used symbol | | | | more distance - as much as 36 inches in Japan. But, in |
| means in other countries. Here are some examples - | | | | Middle Eastern cultures, standing 24-36 inches away |
| the ok sign so commonly seen in the US means | | | | from your associate would make you seem very |
| worthless or zero in France. Worse yet, in Brazil it is | | | | untrustworthy. They prefer a distance of around 8-12 |
| considered vulgar, so you might get slapped if you | | | | inches between parties when talking.Your body |
| flash it to a woman from that country. The thumbs | | | | language is crucial when conducting business. |
| up symbol that is widely recognized in the western | | | | International negotiations can be difficult enough |
| world as a positive sign means "get stuffed", or | | | | without having your body unintentionally send insulting |
| something very close to that in Bangladesh. At best, | | | | or inappropriate messages. So take care... and maybe |
| your audience may have no clue what your gesture | | | | sit on your hands!Keith MacLean presents his |
| means; at worst it may be offensive. Best bet - just | | | | Psychology of Persuasion and Body Language |
| keep any signs for your fellow countrymen!Don't | | | | seminars for a reasonable fee to groups of all sizes |
| wave your arms - Talking with your hands is | | | | worldwide. |
| common - and nearly expected in Italy, but in many | | | | |