Multicultural Manners : Talking Slow or Talking Down?

A music recording record company hires Madge, who holds an MBA from an Ivy League college. They send her to Japan to present the company’s overseas marketing strategies for their new releases.

Madge addresses the Japanese managers: “If I’m going too fast for you, please let me know. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.”

She proceeds with her presentation using a pointer to indicate pertinent information on her chart. Every time she turns around to face her audience, there are fewer people. Finally, only one listener remains.

What went wrong?

Madge had inadvertently insulted her audience. First, by saying, “If I’m going too fast, let me know,” she cast aspersions on their knowledge of English. Her second statement, “If you have any questions, feel free to ask,” implied that these executives needed permission from her in order to ask a question.

And finally, perhaps the largest problem was that while Japanese business methods have begun to accommodate American ways, there is still a large gender gap. It is difficult for executives to deal with female authority figures.

Rule: A substantial gender gap exists in many Asian, Middle Eastern and Latino countries.

Cultural missteps can be compounded by gender issues when doing business overseas.