I remember the first time I traveled internationally for business. I was so excited to be going to Japan and meeting with potential clients there. But as soon as I arrived, I realized that there were some big cultural nuances that I wasn’t prepared for.
For example, in Japan, it’s considered rude to be late for a meeting or dinner engagement. So when my taxi got stuck in traffic and made me 20 minutes late for my first meeting, I could tell that the client was not happy.
Since then, I’ve learned to pay attention to cultural nuances whenever I’m doing business in a new country. It can make all the difference between closing a deal and losing out on an important opportunity.
What are Cultural Nuances?
Cultural nuances are the differences in the way that people in different cultures think, feel, and behave. They can be small, like the way people greet each other, or big, like the way people think about religion or politics.
Cultural nuances can make it hard for people from different cultures to understand each other, but they can also make life more interesting.
The Role of Nuance in Understanding Culture
It’s important to recognize that each cultural group has its own set of unique values and beliefs that are different from your own.
When we start to realize that everyone comes from a different culture, we can begin to respect them. This realization is the first step toward developing your intercultural skills.
Culture is a broad term that encompasses many layers. Here, we’ll go over the 8 dimensions that make up cultural awareness.
A nation’s culture is shaped by its historical background, myths, legends, and religious beliefs. These aspects combine to create a distinct society with customs, beliefs, and practices.
A country’s shared traditions and values usually create a sense of unity among its citizens and establish standards for effective interpersonal behavior. This can make it easier for people from the same country to work together effectively.
Cultures are diverse, and it’s easy to see why people from different cultures can be at odds. Just by looking at someone, you can immediately tell if they’re from a warm or cool culture.
In some parts of the world, people seem to be very warm and welcoming. They smile and will go out of their way to help someone in need.
In cultures where privacy is valued, such as Japan, a smile can be reserved for close friends and family.
In places where it’s more acceptable to talk to strangers, such as the United States, smiling is the norm.
As obvious as it may seem, different cultures have different expectations.
As someone doing business internationally, it’s crucial to understand these cultural nuances so you can adjust your behavior and expectations. That will help you succeed in your international dealings.
Through a microscope, culture can be broken down into its smallest parts.
The truth is that cultures can be very complex, and people’s behavior can vary widely, even in similar situations. Cultures can be expressed in many different ways, and people often express them in different ways.
Even if your culture is one where punctuality is highly valued, there are times when you may not be punctual. This is because people express cultural values and behavior in unique, individual ways.
While generalizations about a culture are important, it’s important not to stereotype. While we can talk about general characteristics of different cultures, not every person from that culture is like that.
If you’re aware that everyone is a unique individual, you’ll be less likely to stereotype them.
8 Dimensions of Culture
By understanding cultural differences, we can better communicate with people from different cultural backgrounds.
Our cultural learning model makes it easy for you to identify these cultural differences.
These 8 dimensions of culture will help you understand how to adjust how you act and what to expect of others so you can work more effectively with people who come from different cultural backgrounds.
1. Hierarchy
How a person views authority and power, and how much deference they will give to leaders in an organization.
It includes how empowered people feel about expressing themselves, making decisions, and taking initiatives.
2. Group
The well-being of an individual versus a larger group or society.
Accomplishments can be individual or a group effort.
3. Relationships
How vital it is to build relationships and develop trust.
When it comes to making business decisions, what’s more important: the people or the business objective?
4. Communication
How we communicate, both verbal and nonverbal, what background information is needed to understand, and how directly or indirectly we talk to each other.
5. Time
The extent to which people think they can influence time, and how important they feel it is to stick to a regimented routine.
This also includes attitudes about timeliness and time management.
6. Formality
The importance and impact of appearance, body language, and tone as indicators of status and authority, and of following proper protocols and using appropriate honorifics when interacting with others.
7. Change
Adaptability, flexibility, and willingness to change. This relates to how in control you feel about your life. Do you feel controlled by your environment?
8. Motivation
The importance of personal and professional life, and how society and the individual define success and social status. The source of identity and self-esteem is also explored, such as being driven by family, or career.
It’s important to note that not every person will conform to the same expectations as their peers. It’s essential to consider the individual characteristics of each prospect when assessing cultural factors.
The 8 dimensions of a culture combine to form each individual’s cultural fingerprint. This unique combination of traits is what sets people apart in their cultures.
Recognizing the cultural differences between individuals is key to success when doing business globally.
Conclusion
Cultural nuances can make a big difference in international business dealings. By being aware of these differences and taking them into account, you can avoid potential problems and build strong relationships with clients and partners from other cultures.
Need Help Automating Your Sales Prospecting Process?
LeadFuze gives you all the data you need to find ideal leads, including full contact information.
Go through a variety of filters to zero in on the leads you want to reach. This is crazy specific, but you could find all the people that match the following:
- A company in the Financial Services or Banking industry
- Who have more than 10 employees
- That spend money on Adwords
- Who use Hubspot
- Who currently have job openings for marketing help
- With the role of HR Manager
- That has only been in this role for less than 1 year
Want to help contribute to future articles? Have data-backed and tactical advice to share? I’d love to hear from you!
We have over 60,000 monthly readers that would love to see it! Contact us and let's discuss your ideas!
