Culture

Culture is our own way of life and the behaviors, beliefs and values we accept after having grown up with it. These concepts are passed on by the communication from one generation to the next. Given the time period, these ideas might change, but essentially culture differs across the world. Edward T. Hall presented the terms of low-context culture and high-context culture. There are contrasting terms which refer to a culture’s tendency to express high-context messages over low-context messages. To clarify, low context culture refers to societies where there are many connections over shorter periods of time. Hence, the different cultural aspects such as values and beliefs need to be explicitly explained. On the other hand, high-context culture is relational, collectivist, and intuitive which generally transcends to the idea that people of that particular culture strongly believe in interpersonal relationships. They develop trust since it is an important factor in conducting business or communicating on a daily basis. It’s also significant to have an understanding of which countries stem from either a high or low-context culture as it impacts our relationships if we do not know the proper etiquette of communication. To give a broader example, if a person from the United States proceeds to conduct business with somebody from China, it’s extremely important to remember that if you are given a business card, you need to examine it before putting it away. Take the business card, skim it, and stare at it for a second and proceed to put it in your front pocket. The Chinese culture considers it highly offensive if their business cards are not thoroughly acknowledged and instead shoved in the back of one’s pockets. This is a sign of disrespect and dismissal. In addition, same goes for departure or greeting. Three firm handshakes are given upon arrival and good-bye, firm grip and eye contact are key factors. This establishes a serious business partnership between the two cultures, so it’s crucial to be aware of such things, to keep the momentum flowing.