The Culture of Exchanging Business Cards

As important as one’s attire and presentation is to any business interaction, the exchange of business cards is just as important and far from routine, particularly when interacting with clients and colleagues of other cultures. The business card after all represents you long after the physical meeting has taken place and is integral to the impression that you make. Regardless of culture, every business card should be clean and free of dog ears or creases. You are encouraged to carry your cards in a brass card case as leather cases may offend clients who practice the Hindu religion where the cow is sacred. The print should be large enough that the reader should not have to squint, and obviously must reflect your name, company, title and contact details.A business card often reflects one’s status and usually marks the beginning of a business relationship. In a few countries, the exchange of business cards is somewhat of a ritual. In Japan for example, the card is handed with both hands, the words facing the client who in turn should receive it with both hands and read over carefully, sometimes aloud. But again, regardless of culture, it is essential that you take a moment to look over a person’s business card once handed to you. This shows your interest in the person and transaction, helps to reinforce his or her name, and may provide an opportunity for you to take notice of something on their card, such as a design, location or name that you can use as a further ice-breaker.

Information at your finger tips

NBC’s Today Show recently featured five phone numbers that they state will change your life. Here’s one that should be programmed into your cell (if it does not have internet capabilities) for those instances where you need information and you’re not close enough to a computer: Auburn University’s Foy Information Line, 334-844-4244

Students at Auburn University in Alabama, armed with the Internet and, as a last resort, reference books, will answer any question you can conceive of.

The hot line operates 24 hours during the week and until 9 p.m. on weekends.

And remember, as you travel this holiday season just text your flight number to 466453 (GOOGLE), and the status on your flight will be sent back to you.

Growth of Luxury Hotel Brands at Record High

Travel Mole reports on a new study by PricewaterhouseCoopers that found that 34 new hotel brands were launched from January to October of last year. Of these new brands, 18 are luxury hotels including Baccarat Hotels and Resorts by Starwood Capital Group whose first Baccarat hotel in Wailea, Hawaii, is expected to open in 2010, with others to follow in the Caribbean, Europe and the Far East.

The Croatian (ahem) Anthem

Kwintessential shares the story of how a linguistic and rather X-rated mistake may have proven to be a good omen for the Croatian team at the Euro 2008 finals. Read on …

How do you motivate the next generation of workers?

In case you missed it last night, CBS 60 Minutes had this segment about the new generation of “millennials”, born between 1980 and 1995, exploring their entry and impact in the workplace. Briefly featured was the Motivation Show and the incentives industry, tied to the fact that these employees expect to be praised, thanked, and rewarded. If you have 10 minutes, it is worth watching; a great plug for our incentives industry.

Can you imagine what it’d be like to travel around the world?

If you have ever fantasized about traveling around the world in one go, take a look at this blog by Andy Stoll, a self-described filmmaker, writer, social entrepreneur and independent traveler who set out in August 2006 on his two-year trip. As Andy shares his travelogue, he also shares some interesting insight into his intercultural findings and faux pas, such as how sometimes the smallest cultural differences cause the biggest problems.

Thank you to Martha for sharing this blog.

When translations go wrong

Kwintessential shares this link to a Guardian article that reports on how mistaken words and a literal translation provided by translation web site Babel Fish, almost led to a diplomatic incident. It is an interesting read, but not necessarily surprising. I often use Babel Fish to help me in translating messages to French and Spanish for both business and personal communications. However, having studied both languages, I use the site to help me get a running start with the translation, but I also always review (and make corrections) to ensure that the output reflects the context of my message.

Concierges for your employees?

What are some of the benefits that your company offers employees? Consider this; a number are now including concierge and personal assistant services as perks. According to this article in Sun Sentinel:

About 5 percent of the nation’s companies, according to one survey, have hired personal assistance firms to handle at least some services for their workers — whether that means arranging for a car wash or searching for airfare deals, for example. The employer pays the concierge’s fee, while staffers pay the cost of the wash or tickets.

In terms of the work/life balance, I imagine that this benefit not only gives employees more free time to spend with their families, but I also assume it reduces the time out of the office running errands and such.