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The USA
The desire to debate issues directly leads Americans to be seen by some cultures as aggressive
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Communication styles in business in the States are determined by many of the approaches to business we have already described above. The desire to debate issues directly and openly leads Americans to be seen by some cultures as aggressive and even rude. Coded speech and verbosity is often seen as time wasting and in time pressured corporate USA, that is a crime.
Thus, when an impasse is reached in meeting situations, the reaction is often to address it directly and ‘with feeling.’ This direct, robust debate can often be viewed by more harmony seeking cultures as signalling the breakdown of meaningful discussions and as the signal to try to abandon the interaction - whereas in the States it is seen positively and as a sign of definite progress.
Paradoxically, on first introductions, American can seem very friendly, polite and solicitous of your well being which seems to be at odds with the verbal behaviour exhibited half an hour later in the meeting. This overt friendliness (Have nice day!, Hi, how are you doing? etc.) should be taken for what it is — part of the protocol of the language and not as an attempt at establishing a life long friendship.
Although coded speech and over-verbosity are frowned upon, the latest ‘management speak’ is often to the fore in business dealings which can make Americans sound extremely jargonistic — almost to the point of obscuring the real message.
Americans are much more open in conversation about private affairs than many European cultures and the converse of this is that Americans will often, quite naively, ask very personal questions at an early stage in a relationship which may be perceived by some people as intrusive. (‘What do you make?)
Thus, when an impasse is reached in meeting situations, the reaction is often to address it directly and ‘with feeling.’ This direct, robust debate can often be viewed by more harmony seeking cultures as signalling the breakdown of meaningful discussions and as the signal to try to abandon the interaction - whereas in the States it is seen positively and as a sign of definite progress.
Paradoxically, on first introductions, American can seem very friendly, polite and solicitous of your well being which seems to be at odds with the verbal behaviour exhibited half an hour later in the meeting. This overt friendliness (Have nice day!, Hi, how are you doing? etc.) should be taken for what it is — part of the protocol of the language and not as an attempt at establishing a life long friendship.
Although coded speech and over-verbosity are frowned upon, the latest ‘management speak’ is often to the fore in business dealings which can make Americans sound extremely jargonistic — almost to the point of obscuring the real message.
Americans are much more open in conversation about private affairs than many European cultures and the converse of this is that Americans will often, quite naively, ask very personal questions at an early stage in a relationship which may be perceived by some people as intrusive. (‘What do you make?)