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HANDSHAKE HOW-TO A GU I DE TO GLOBAL GREET I NGS AUSTRALIA

body language and tone. A regular in-person meeting is also a must to boost team morale and increase collaboration. When clarity is provided through “face-to-face” meetings, the speed of business and execution is much faster. Challenge #3: Disjointed conflict resolution. Working predominantly through email makes it difficult to deal with tough issues and get everyone on the same page. Tone and body-language play a large role in communica- tion, and without these nuances, delicate situations can be hard to manage correctly. Solution: Pick up the phone. Never communicate “tough messages” via email, because written messages can easily be misunderstood. By speak- ing live to the individual in a one-on-one conversation, you are much more likely to understand one another and communicate effectively. Challenge #4: Conflicting corporate culture. Great company culture de- pends on constant interaction and team bonding among employees. Such camaraderie can be more difficult for global teams to define, implement, and ultimately achieve. Solution: Invest in cultural training. I once hired a consultant to spend a day with my management team for cultural training. The consultant split our group into teams based on nationality. Each team had to answer the question, “What values would you want to instill in your children?” The Americans said things like self-confidence, ambition, and intellectual curios- ity; whereas the Germans emphasized respect for authority and work ethic. The exercise gave each of us a better understanding of how different cul- tures approach situations. We started to function better as a team. We had a unifying culture that still held respect for the individual perspective.

RUSSIA Women and men don’t shake hands unless it’s a business situation. Socially, men should kiss women’s hands. SOUTH KOREA The handshake is begun by the most senior person and the grip is soft. BRAZIL Handshakes are firm, long- lasting, and strong eye contact should be mixed in. This is repeated upon departure. THAILAND No handshakes; people place their palms together at chest level and bow. Source: MentalFloss.com

A woman shaking a man’s hand offers her hand first; women do not shake hands with other women. MEXICO Men’s handshakes are long- lasting and sometimes followed by a hug. UAE The hand of the oldest person is shaken first, and a lingering shake is expected. CHINA The hand of the oldest person is shaken first with a light grip and a slight bow; no direct eye contact.

OBER 12, 2015, ISSUE 1123

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