El Chupacabra Invades Asia

The spirit of El Chupacabra has once again raised its ugly head on planet Earth. Some have called it the essence of the “Ugly American,” stereotype. In the last month, I have experienced first hand, an ugly American influenced business process coming back to the U.S., from Malaysia. This behavior is not the norm in Malaysia. However, this time it has crossed an ocean in the opposite direction and it is raising many new cultural concerns, especially on virtual teams. The spirit of El Chupacabra kills intangibles in business. Intangibles like WA, or in other words, harmony. El Chupacabra has sharp teeth and it destroys an individual’s pride and desire to partner with international teams. My biggest concern is, wonderful Asian cultural traits may be disappearing as the global village gets smaller and smaller. Many of our greater Asia region business partners are educated in the United States and have adopted the Ugly American business practice along with the good ones learned.

The innovative issue at hand is a partnership with other high-tech companies to deliver intercultural training locally. Many businesses can not offer a fully utilized class of 18 participants, but the training is still necessary. One solution is to offer a course locally and allow other companies to send their employees to the training. This is a win-win situation. Everyone gets the training needed to be successful working internationally and it also opens up networking opportunities and future partnerships in the local community. The challenge is in the communication and ownership. An assumption on the part of a Malaysian (course owner), drove her to shoot down the proposal and send an email to many people (HR directors and other manager peers) stating that she did not know or approve anything. I lost a whole lot of face with my partner at this company. My hurt pride has kept me from responding to the Malaysian course owner’s email, for about two weeks. I know it is the right business decision to work together to offer these courses, but I don’t need this company attending my classes, I am not desperate. I was trying to get a win-win and help everyone develop and enhance relationships. The last thing I expected was to get treated with disrespect from Malaysia or anywhere else in Asia for that matter. I am a victim of reversed Ugly American retaliation in the spirit of El Chupacabra.

Next week I will swallow my pride and communicate with the Malaysian counterpart to work out the details. The casualty of this issue is my local contact at the company who was doing me a favor in communicating a great opportunity. I happen to be married to this individual. In addition, my wife, does not desire to be apart of, or be my local contact in the future due to her loss of face with her business network relationships in New Mexico (my wife had nothing to gain by her communication). The Malaysian counterpart has severed the relationship through a communication faux pas to “All,” denying the partnership and approval of a great opportunity in a true Ugly American fashion. This action hurt everyone. My main concern about the issue, is around this trend becoming the future of doing business globally? I sure hope not!

Typically, Americans are known for being a little cut throat and going for the jugular vein (much like the El Chupacabra), looking for a quick resolution, rather than trying to work out differences at the lowest possible level. I have heard business acquaintances say “Americans are very nice people, but they just don’t care.” People make a lot of assumptions when doing business, especially internationally. Here is my top 5 list of virtual team assumptions. Have you made any?

1. Assuming that everyone internationally has a computer to use themselves. In China and India, many people often share a computer so access is not always available. In some instances, 17 plus individuals share a computer terminal.
   

2. Assuming that everyone internationally has a car or transportation to get to work early or to stay late. Many people internationally rely on public transportation that does not allow for staying late or arriving early.
   

3. Assuming individuals have internet service from their home. Americans are blessed or cursed (depending on how you look at life) on the number of early and late meetings you attend. Do you live to work (24 x 7) or work to live (8-5)? Internet connectivity leaves much to be desired in many countries.
   

4. Assuming that silence is a bad thing. When is the last time that you had to translate Japanese into English, think about what was said and come up with an intelligent response? Give your international peer some time to digest what has been said. Silence is golden.
   

5. Assuming that a requested response that is older than 24 hours needs to be escalated to a manager. It is best to resolve issues at the lowest possible level. Build relationships with your international peers don’t go for the jugular vein. Trust is important in doing business internationally.

Understanding Arabs: the use of the Inappropriate Hand

In most Arab countries and/or countries influenced by Arab traditions, the left hand is considered "unclean" and is not to play a part in social settings at all. The left hand is for private duty only. Do not make a fool of yourself and commit a major cultural faux pas by putting your left hand forward to receive or give anything, be conscious of the left hand’s role in dealing with Arabs. The left hand is taboo. Your left hand remains in your lap while dining. If you forget this rule of engagement and serve yourself with your left hand or grab a roll from a public plate, the other guests will be disgusted at your lack of manners and the plate of food will be removed immediately and be thrown out. It is customary to eat, shake hands, and wave only with the right hand.

Even today, it is considered extremely impolite and offensive to offer the left hand for a handshake or even to wave hello or good-bye with your left hand. This rigid belief or social standard is biased against the estimated 10% of Lefty’s or Southpaws.

Understanding the Arabs use of the left hand brings me to the understanding of most Westerners and the use of their right hand. I frequent the men’s room as often as most and I practice a cleaning ritual afterwards, using soap and hot water. With most of the world’s population being right-handed, I make a safe assumption that the right-hand is more accurate at performing a critical removal of unhygienic mass from places the sun generally does not shine. Of course, in the U.S. we use paper products to keep most of the particles away from or skin.

What percentage of American’s, wash their hands after performing a natural urge? More American’s claim to wash their hands, than actually do! So I suggest that it is safer for an Arab to shake an American’s left hand than the American’s right hand. In addition, I question the safety of using a stair rail or an escalator’s rubber hand belt. Which is safer? Walking down the stairs with clean hands, not using the public hand rail or using the unhygienic public hand rail? I believe, I will risk a fall. Keep your unhygienic stuff to yourself.

Here is a question. The other day I saw a man without a right arm. What does he do? How does a culture with a left hand taboo, deal with this issue? Do they go hungry in an Arab driven culture? Do you know? Please comment below. For some reason, I don't believe the amputee gets many dinner invitations.

We may need to change our world customs and adopt bowing! The Japanese were very astute in developing their hygienic custom. Microbiologists around the world applaud the Japanese. Don’t even get me started on bar snacks and public access to bowls of nuts, pretzels and popcorn.

Here are a few other items to ponder: Buffets, doorknobs, gas (petrol) pump handles, telephones, elevator buttons, menus, coke/cola cans, server hands, pens in a bank and/or offices (do you chew on pens?). Is it necessary to go on? I don’t think so.

Good News! Some East Indian’s Claim: American Cows are Not Holy!

I heard a very funny story the other day, a story about East Indians and McDonalds or rather American beef. Personally, I never really associate McDonalds with beef. It doesn’t taste like beef, it doesn’t look like beef and it definitely doesn’t smell like beef. The story followed the course of a new immigrant from India in the U.S. to study for their Ph.D., going to McDonalds and observing some of his Hindu friends eating a Big Mac hamburger, fries, and coke. As the new guy was experiencing some cognitive dissonance about the whole thing, the new immigrant decided to express his concern, “You guys realize of course, you are eating beef!” The friends looked up at their new acquaintance and said, “You will have to get beyond that notion quick, American cows are unholy!” What the new guy ordered I do not know.

As funny as this notion appears to the U.S., it brings up another question for me. Let’s think about this issue for a second or two. Why would anyone want to put something unholy in their mouth and digest it? Is it holy or unholy?

With over 1 billion people in India and growing rapidly, 81% of the people being Hindu and unable to eat beef, this is good news for world beef companies. Many Indians believe in a Gita, which tells them to do what their conscious tells them to do regardless of consequence, as success and failure are the same side of the same coin. An American company called Nike must have a similar Gita. Nike coins it a little differently, by telling us to “Just do it!” However, saying this, if it is unholy, it sounds disgusting and you can count me out.

Methamphetamine Scare and Shock Communication in the USA

As I drove to work the other day, I stopped at a red light and observed a sad couple at a bus stop. The couple looked ragged. Teeth were missing, faces sucked in and they appeared just about used up. Both held a 32 ounce Big Gulp in their hands, it was 6:30 A.M! Had meth stolen their souls?

My mind wandered back to an article I was reading in a People magazine while waiting for an appointment. Although this magazine is not my magazine of choice, the meth epidemic is scary and real. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure echoed through my brain. I thought about the before and after pictures of the crystal meth users in People Magazine. Talk about scary! I remembered my junk mail, representing “missing people” on flyers and the computer enhanced aged pictures of children abducted when they were three and now appeared to be seven. I then thought about morphing software. How can we use technology to help reduce the number of new drug users?

Almost everyone should agree the soundest policy to find a way to prevent young people from getting started on crystal meth is to show them what they will look like in ten years. Methamphetamine will make you appear to be all used up and much older than you are.

Okay! Here is my idea. Someone out there needs to create morphing software that will take a middle school students picture, then morph them out 10 years. Afterwards, they morph the picture again to show what they will look like if they use meth. Have all the students hang this picture of themselves in their lockers. Look at that beauty everyday. Is the risk worth the crime? There are enough struggles in life without compounded the issues with becoming brain washed and abused. How many young teens are willing to risk becoming less beautiful; teens are hyper-sensitive? For example, the world appears to end as huge crocodile tears drain from their eyes when a zit pops out on their face. Just scream no! Keep off drugs.

It seems a little late for the bus-stop-duo, but it is not too late for you! Step up to the plate people, parents, schools, employers, and government. Individuals like to see how issues impact them! Today’s young U.S. culture singing a cultural faux pas, “What have you done for me lately?”

American Indian Mascot as U.S. Cultural Faux Pas

You have most likely heard a quote similar to, “The devil you know is better than the devil you don’t.” Although I am not an advocate of political correctness as it hides blatant prejudice, I have to ask the question, “Why is the American Indian not afforded political correctness in naming conventions?”

After having had a wonderful conversation with an American Indian couple about developing an intercultural communication class or rather a course called, “Working with American Indians” (a course much over due and needed in today’s business and social society), an old hurt came to the surface and a little frustration appeared. The frustration surrounds the use of ethnic Indian names without permission and want. What about these American Indian Mascots? Let’s face it! How can we as an American society allow ourselves to accept blatant cultural faux pas without blinking an eye? Is money the driver? Is pride an issue at stake? Whose pride? Do we allow a few to suffer for the joy of many?

How many ways can we insult the American Indian? How many ways can we lift up the American Indian? I found a quote on the internet and here it is, "When I first landed in Cincinnati, I thought there weren't any Indians living here. But since noon, I have seen a Cherokee, Navajo, Winnebago, Dakota, Mohawk and a Comanche ~ and those were just the RV's, trucks, cars and small aircraft (Dennis Banks)." Dennis brings up an even bigger issue, not only ethnic sport names are being used, but many items for sale incorporate the American Indian in their marketing. Is the American benefiting in any way from these sales?

Here are a couple examples of ethnic sport names in use today, the Blackhawk’s, Warriors, Chiefs, Indians, Seminoles, Braves, Redskins and I am sure there are more. These are all cultural and ethnic names of professional and amateur sports teams that use the Indian and reference to Indians for their nicknames, logos and mascots. How many other high schools and colleges are out there using similar ethnic nicknames? There are many people on both sides of this issue. Some of these people feel the use of such logos or mascots is insensitive and/or racist. On the other hand, some feel these ethnic logos and mascots honor Native Americans. Has the U.S. really ever honored the Indian people? The U.S. culture clashes with the American Indian culture. The cultures do not follow the same lines. What exactly do you really know about the American Indian?

This is a very controversial and complex issue that needs to be decided once and for all. Is it or is it not a blatant cultural faux pas to use ethnicity as a naming convention? What names can’t be renamed?

High-Tech: Honeymoon Global Positioning System (GPS) has finally arrived

On April 1, 2006, two directionally challenged, good friends got married, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. April 1st should give you a great picture of their personalities and what is about to come.

I was the back-up Best Man, titled the Honorary Best Man. I was experiencing a little worry. Alright, I was really worried about the Bride and Groom and the fact that both of them are so directionally challenged. Can you imagine the couple getting lost on their honeymoon night? The honeymoon night is the last place in the world that you want to get lost.

Having worked in a high-tech environment for many years, I began to ponder a solution to the challenges ahead. I noticed the couple had put their gift requests in the Target store gift registry so I took a look. Sure enough, they had requested not one, but two Global Positioning Systems (GPS), so they might always find where they are going. I understand that trying to figure out where you are and where you're going, or where you should be, is probably some of the oldest challenges for humans. Over the years all types of technologies have been designed and developed to eliminate and/or simplify the task for the directionally challenged, but until now, every one of the inventions has had some issues to resolve.

Good news. As of April 01, 2006 the original and coined “Honeymoon GPS” has arrived. It is so new that the patent is still pending. This high-tech solution no longer relies on satellites and electricity power. It has a navigation that will never fail. Happy honeymoon!

Disclaimer: Honeymoon suggests marriage and therefore the Honeymoon GPS only works on that special night. Afterwards, the new couple is on there own.

The Birth of Shock Communication

Innovative thought develops into action, allowing for enhanced learning, generating cognitive memory storage and the immediate retrieval of that memory over time. Continue to shift mind-sets away from traditional learning. People are anxiously awaiting entertainment, so what are you waiting for, entertain. Creativity enhances knowledge transfer and retention.

Professors Corinne Shefner-Rogers and her late husband, Ev Rogers (The Father of Diffusion of Innovations), always come to the forefront of my mind, when I think of Shock Communication. The “Sexy” (stealing one of Ev’s favorite words) couple co-taught a graduate level health communication class at the University of New Mexico (UNM). What a great class. Ev and Corinne had traveled to Paris, France during the course and brought back some fine French pate to share with us. Ev graciously opened and prepared crackers and pate. Ev and Corinne loved to share food and engage in communication. The students often prepared food to bring to class. Serving everyone a cracker or rather those that would partake of the tasty morsel, we savored the moment. Our taste buds tantalized and mesmerized by the flavor, we desired more.

Ev finally asked if anyone would like more, the answer was definitely yes. We were hooked. Ev reached into his bag and pulled out a second can. Without saying a word, Ev opened the can in full view of the class. A can of cat food! As Ev spread the pate-like spread onto the crackers, the class gasped! Did Ev eat one? I can’t remember. I like to believe that he did eat one. My stomach was not a happy camper and my mind raced thinking did he, could he, would he, and finally, they didn’t? Filling the plate with crackers and cat food spread, Ev proceeds to walk the class asking everyone to try the delicious snack – for obvious reasons everyone refused. Laughing heartily, Ev and Corinne showed the class the two cans, one pate and one cat food. The cans were similar enough to allow for shock and awe. Afterwards, the sexy couple began the lesson.

What did I learn? Ev and Corinne invited transformation for change and new thinking. Shock-a-Comm in good taste is an advocate for memory retention! Vindictive Shock Communication; however, is good for spiteful, angry retaliation. Appropriate use of shock and/or humor is sometimes necessary to allow for successful knowledge transfer and retention.