There is quite an ongoing debate on whether you still need to be so formal when communicating via email. Some think it is best to just get straight to the point in our fast-paced world and there is no necessity for courtesies anymore. However, I believe that if we continue to do so, some generations down the line will not know how to write at all anymore. Think of it as if you are going to a party. It is better to be over-dressed – you can always take the pearls off and first

“Don’t judge a book by its cover” is a saying we are all too familiar with as most parents probably raise their children with this concept. However, let us be honest, more than often we do judge a book by its cover and first impressions do count. Yes, what is on the “inside” may sometimes be more important, but naturally most people will look at the packaging before looking at its content. Why? Because people make up their mind about you in the first 5-7 seconds of meeting yo

Business etiquette, international business etiquette, travel etiquette or social etiquette – depending on the situation and circumstance, you will have to read up, adjust and learn about each depending on your purpose. In any case, you should not see etiquette as a set of rules, but rather as a notion of communication. Like language, we need to learn the customs of a culture we are dealing with or of the country we are living in. Growing up in a country, you learn it automati

Why is it that some people seem to succeed in all they do? What is the difference between the colleague who gets promoted into higher positions a lot quicker and his colleague who seems to stay put with where he is in his career and who is not climbing the corporate ladder no matter how hard he thinks he is trying? It might not be obvious at first sight, but you will find that the more successful colleague has mastered the fine nuances of etiquette. Etiquette, or in this case

I will never forget one of the dilemmas I ran into when I went on my first trip to the Philippines. My husband introduced me to one of his best friends, but had to leave the room to welcome his other buddies. We were left alone, sitting in awkward silence. Me, being Western thought it would be polite to ask some questions and get to know his best friend. However, I noticed he would never answer my questions. He would simply raise his eyebrows quickly up and down every time I

90% of all misunderstandings are not due to what was said, but due to tone. How much more when it comes to misunderstandings between people of two different cultures speaking two different languages? What should you look out for when traveling or doing business abroad? There are several stumbling blocks and mistakes we make without even realising it, but it is easy to avoid them if you know what to look out for! Read on! 1. Don’t Expect Everyone to Understand and Speak your L

Is it your first time to meet Japanese business clients? How should you greet them or exchange business cards? Have you ever wondered how to conduct yourself in a Japanese business meeting? Japan is a country rich in traditions and culture and manners are highly regarded in this land of the rising sun. To start off on the right foot, learn some basic etiquette about Japan. Stay on top of your game and impress your Japanese clients by showing you made the effort to learn the e

Did you know that there are over 300 kinds of bread in Germany? That there is a barbie doll modelled on Germany's chancellor Angela Merkel? That the famous Oktoberfest in Munich actually starts in September or that if a German says "halb zwei" (lit. "half two"), he/she actually means half past one (1:30) in English? Are you ready for your travels to Germany? Whether it is for business or for leisure, it is always important to know a bit about the country you are travelling to