{"id":3182,"date":"2017-12-07T10:22:57","date_gmt":"2017-12-07T16:22:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wacaustin.org\/?p=3182"},"modified":"2017-12-01T13:25:02","modified_gmt":"2017-12-01T19:25:02","slug":"same-same-but-different-the-need-for-cultural-competence-in-a-globalized-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wacaustin.org\/wp2015\/same-same-but-different-the-need-for-cultural-competence-in-a-globalized-world\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cSame Same But Different\u201d: The Need for Cultural Competence in a Globalized World"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Anna Katrina Davey, Founder & President at Cultural Confidence<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The iconic phrase \u201csame same but different\u201d, ubiquitously heard in the tourist areas of Thailand as well as other parts of Southeast Asia, is a metaphor I like to use to describe people and culture. While the versatile Tinglish expression is generally used in the context of justifying a higher price for something that may appear to be the same, yet is \u2013 or allegedly is \u2013 different from another product or service, it also exemplifies how we generally view our fellow human beings.<\/p>\n

As I have pointed out before in my\u00a0Paris TEDx Talk<\/a>, there is a tendency amongst people of good will to rely on the belief that we as human beings are more similar than different. We like to think that despite some superficial differences in the form of appearance, customs and behaviors, deep down we are all the same \u2013 human beings with the same core needs, values and desires. Our innate longing for connection, belief in spiritual oneness, and on the other hand a tendency towards superficiality, all easily lead us to find comfort in such beliefs and assume similarities even at the socio-cultural level.<\/p>\n

Yet how similar are we, actually, on this material plane of existence? Are there values that are shared across the globe? Do we have similar expectations or perceive and interpret things in the same way across cultures? Or is it simply that as humans we all experience similar emotions such as love, joy, sadness, anger or disappointment?<\/p>\n

To answer such questions, let\u2019s just have a closer look at a few typical scenarios:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Is it ethical or is it dishonest to expect your business partner to stick to the contract even when unexpected circumstances arise, rather than taking into consideration the underlying human relationship and changed circumstances?<\/p>\n

\u2022 Is it respectful or is it rude to look at someone in the eyes when they are talking with you?<\/p>\n

\u2022 Is a \u201climp\u201d handshake a sign of weakness or of respect?<\/p>\n

\u2022 Does the answer \u201cyes\u201d necessarily imply agreement or can it also simply mean \u201cI hear you\/I understand what you said\/I can see this is important to you\u201d?<\/p>\n

\u2022 Do we approach a negotiation with a \u201ctime is money\u201d attitude, or rather with the idea that the slower the negotiation, the better and the more trust can be built?<\/p>\n

Indeed the expectations and judgments around such situations can be very different if not polar opposite across cultures. In other words, we might be all be playing the same game in life, but the rules vary. So if we want to experience positive interactions, personal growth and business success in the global marketplace, let us avoid simplistic assumptions and instead truly learn to understand each other.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s step up our game and learn the different sets of rules so that we give ourselves the predictable opportunity to \u201cwin\u201d in a variety of environments.<\/p>\n

\"Anna
Anna Katrina Davey is a multilingual and multicultural intercultural trainer and consultant, international speaker, and the founder of Cultural Confidence. She has helped dozens of Fortune 500 and other companies succeed in global markets by training their employees to effectively manage cultural differences. She also works with attorneys providing crucial culture expert witness services and regularly works with universities by facilitating intercultural workshops within a variety of global programs. She is furthermore a sought out international speaker at business conferences as well as educational conferences such as TEDx in Paris and SIETAR, Society for Intercultural Education, Training and Research, in Buenos Aires.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

This article originally appeared in <\/em>Cultural Confidence<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Anna Katrina Davey, Founder & President at Cultural Confidence   The iconic phrase \u201csame same but different\u201d, ubiquitously heard in the tourist areas of Thailand as well as other 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