Step 2:Coach the individual on culturally appropriate behavior. [☛13.1 Coaching]
Having completed this homework does not necessarily mean you should now confront theoffending individual directly. In many cultures (including North America, in less obvious
ways), directness or confrontation causes the offender to lose face. It might now be appropri-
ate to set your homework aside, as coaching from a written text is seen in many parts of the
world as serious, condemning, and permanent.
Next, follow these three tips:
a. Where to say it: Take the person out for coffee or lunch in some private place.
b. How to say it: Exchange pleasantries and show interest in learning about the
other person’s culture.
c. What to say: Gently discuss the cultural differences at issue (i.e., the content of
the three columns above). Do this verbally. Don’t use written
notes.Copyright McGraw-Hill 2000. Original purchasers of this book are permitted to photocopy or customize this worksheet by downloading it from
http://www.books.mcgraw-hill.com/training/download. The document can then be opened, edited, and printed using Microsoft Word or other word processing
software.
RELATED LEADERSHIP TOOLS
8.1 Conversations 12.4 Feedback 14.7 Personal Preferences
8.5 Metacommunicating 13.6 Attribution Theory 15.3 JoHari Window
8.7 Active Listening 14.6 Learning Styles 15.4 Ladder of Inference
FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE
MacIonis, John, and Nijole V. Benokraitis. Seeing Ourselves: Classic, Contemporary, and Cross-Cultural Readings.Prentice
Hall, 1997.
Morrison, Terri, Wayne A. Conaway, George A. Borden, and Hans Koehler. Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands: How to Do
Business in 60 Countries.Adams Media Corporation, 1995.
Culture Shock: A Guide to Customs and Etiquette.This Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company series of books, one
per country, is an excellent source of cross-cultural information.
SECTION 8 TOOLS FORCOMMUNICATION 259
(e.g., speaking out of turn in meetings,
acting superior)(e.g., boasting about past
accomplishments and qualifications)