Vacations To Cabo San Lucas

Check to be sure you have plenty of your business cards in your attach before you leave on a trip. They’re important because they give valuable information to many status-laden countries about your position and the status of your company. In many countries, how you’re treated even the grammar used to address you depends on your personal status. Your business cards can supply this information so everyone knows who’s on first, who’s a rising executive, and who’s just a peon from the mailroom.

If English isn’t spoken where you’re headed (and most of the time it won’t be), have one side of your cards printed in the language of the country you’re visiting. It’s nice if you can have this done before you leave, but if you’re the procrastinating sort, ask the concierge at your hotel where you can get your cards printed.

Once you’ve got those bilingual cards tucked away, be sure you know the correct rules for how and when to present your business cards, and how to accept the cards given to you. Some cultures think it’s a good idea to study the card and treat it with respect; others believe you should stuff it in your card case for later viewing. The best rule-of-thumb, no matter where you are, is to present your card formally holding the card between your thumb and index finger. The card should be positioned so the recipient can take the card and read it instantly without turning it around.

Not everyone in the world appreciates the direct eye contact so common in America. We think of it as “forthright” others consider it rude, aggressive, or challenging. On the other hand, some foreign hosts will object if you don’t stare them right in the eyes. (In Scandinavia, for example, direct eye contact while tossing back a shot of liquor is absolutely de rigueur.) Do your homework to find out the ogling style for the country you’re going to visit.

Americans tend to think that a hearty handshake is the only form of greeting worth initiating. Wrong again! In some countries, the handshake is anything but firm it’s almost limp in its passivity. The best rule-of-thumb is to expect a handshake and match the pressure and enthusiasm extended by the other person. Some cultures prefer to bypass the handshake altogether in favor of the “air kiss” on both cheeks, while others think it’s swell for people of the same sex to walk hand in hand down the street.

On the other hand, some cultures find any sort of body contact to be taboo, from patting the back during a greeting to draping an arm on the shoulder. If you’re unfamiliar with the culture, you could misinterpret the behavior. In order to do the right thing, study the cultural customs of your destination before you make a significant blunder by kissing when you should have shaken.