As multinational, multicultural and multilingual organisations continue to expand with employees from all over the globe living and working in different cultures to their own, opportunities to commit social faux pas are rife!

It's no longer enough to say “When in Rome … do as the Romans do”. Chances are the people you work with aren't actually from the country you're living in so all the normal rules of local culture might not apply.

Timekeeping

In some cultures, such as Australia, Germany and China, it's considered rude to keep someone waiting for a business meeting.

But in other countries, such as the United Arab Emirates, France, Spain and Russia, punctuality is not considered a virtue and is often treated casually, so you may be kept waiting before or during your meeting.

In these circumstances it is advisable to be patient. Take the time to chat and establish good working relationships.

Don't be put off if your meeting is interrupted by other guests or telephone conversations either, this is often the normal practice and may be a test of your patience!

Gift giving

Gift giving is an area which often causes confusion and can cause great offence if the traditions of the country or culture are not adhered to.

In many cultures gifts are given to celebrate finalising a negotiation, a contract or a project. Gifts for the office, such as a nice bottle of wine or liquor are appropriate.

In other cultures gift giving might be seen as a bribe and could result in legal action being taken as companies in some countries aren't permitted to accept gifts.

In Africa and Australia gift giving is not the norm. However, in Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines, exchanging gifts is strongly rooted in tradition. Part of the tradition is the gracious style used to present and receive them.

Even more confusing is how you accept a gift. It's very important in Asia and the Middle East to only use your right hand, or both hands, to offer or accept a gift. In Japan and Hong Kong, you should use both hands.

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