There's a good chance that some of your coworkers, bosses, or employees will come from a different cultural background. Ever feel like you don't really understand what they're saying, even when you're speaking the same language? It might be because you are not fluent in the body language of their native culture. In the book Intercultural Communication in the Global Workplace, authors Iris Varner and Linda Beamer give examples of how even the simplest gestures can have different meanings in different countries.
Forms of Greeting
Handshakes:
United States and Canada: Firm handshake.
France: Soft, quick handshake.
Japan: Handshake with arm fully extended, accompanied by a bow.
Germany: Firm handshake. Men traditionally accompany the handshake with a slight bow.
Middle East: Handshake with the free hand placed on the forearm of the other person.
Bowing: Many people from Asian cultures bow in greeting. In Japan, people bow with their hands at their sides, and the depth of the bow is related to the level of respect due to the other person. Thais bow with their palms together and fingers outstretched, while people from Cambodia and Laos bow with their hands in front of their chests. Pakistanis use the salaam, and bow with the palm of the right hand on their foreheads.
