By Kay Wright
Columnist: Cultural diversity
At a recent cultural diversity seminar sponsored by the Lexington Bluegrass Association of Realtors in partnership with the Kentucky World Trade Center (KWTC), participants learned that in Chinese culture, it is not appropriate to say yes the first time food or drink is offered. Instead, the host's offer should be declined several times before it is polite for the guest to accept food or drink.
As Ying Juan Rogers, vice president of the KWTC, shared with us, this causes problems for individuals from China visiting Lexington. They may become very thirsty and hungry if some understanding of culture is not negotiated. Think about the impact that this simple cultural practice might have in business negotiations!
Kentuckians are certainly not inexperienced in working with the cultural nuances affecting business practices. Our successful partnership with Toyota and related companies is proof that we do our homework with respect to Japanese culture and its relevance to building personal and business relationships. Are we as prepared to embrace the cultures of countries offering potential business opportunities as a result of their exposure to Lexington and Kentucky during the Alltech 2010 FEI World Games?
Test your cultural aptitude by determining whether the following statements are true or false. Please keep in mind that these are general observations about culture and that we must be cognizant of the experiences of the individuals as well as their cultures.
1. A smile covers discomfort in some Asian cultures.
2. A hug in public between husband and wife would be appropriate in China.
3. The most frequently spoken language in Brazil is Spanish.
4. Maintaining harmony is very important in Japanese culture.
5. Individuals from Latin American countries may demonstrate a non-linear notion of time.
6. Red is associated with good luck to the Chinese, but mourning to Koreans.
7. Green is Egypt's national color and associated with Allah. To use green in marketing would be seen as a desecration.
8. Red is associated with death in Peru, Mexico, and Iran.
9. Asian cultures demonstrate group priority over individual interests.
10. In Saudi Arabia, showing the soles of your feet is considered offensive.
If you responded correctly to most of these questions, you have demonstrated some knowledge of cultural differences. However, to truly embrace the social and business opportunities that may arise from the 2010 World Games and other events, we must have more than a checklist of everything we need to know about a specific culture. We must be "culturally intelligent."
In their book, People Skills for Global Business: Cultural Intelligence, authors David C. Thomas and Kerr Inkson describe three possibilities for overcoming cultural differences in business.
They include expecting others to adapt, understanding cultural differences, and becoming "culturally intelligent." Culturally intelligent business practices are embedded in:
(1) Knowledge: Knowing what a culture is, how cultures vary, and how culture affects behavior.
(2) Mindfulness: Being mindful, or showing the ability to pay attention in a reflective and creative way to cues in cross-cultural situations.
(3) Behavior: Developing adaptive behaviors that are appropriate for different intercultural situations.
Are we in Lexington "culturally intelligent" or simply knowledgeable of differences?
What will be our forum for enhancing our cultural intelligence here in Lexington? Most importantly, do we possess and value the characteristics that support our cultural intelligence, including curiosity about others, eagerness for self knowledge, and openness to new ideas?
These characteristics seem to blend well with Richard Florida's personalities of cities, a topic at the forefront of much of our discussion about Lexington's pursuit of sustained, creative intelligence. Openness fosters curious, artistic and creative behaviors. Conscientiousness is characterized by responsible, detail-oriented, and achievement-oriented behaviors. Extroversion includes a willingness to meet new people. Agreeable behavior is warm, friendly, compassionate and concerned for the welfare of others.
The "Year of the Games" is quickly approaching. We are all concerned about making sure the physical environment is aesthetically and functionally perfect. Let's not forget the tremendous significance of our cultural intelligence as we welcome and, hopefully, build ongoing partnerships with creative minds across the globe.
Kay Wright is chair of the International and Diversity Task Force of the Lexington Bluegrass Association of Realtors, a Realtor with Rector-Hayden, Realtors, and Professor Emeritus at Eastern Kentucky University.