Visiting a classroom of elementary children, I was pleased to hear the teacher stress that making eye contact with others was an important part of successful communication. The class participated in games using eye contact activities. Eye contact is often a method some human resource professionals use to detect open and honest job candidates.
What if eye contact was no longer a desired form of communication but a practice that might get you imprisoned or worse?
While traveling in Europe recently, I met up with a friend, Pilar, from Prague, Czech Republic. I heard stories that shook my trusting demeanor to the core. What I take for granted as part of my corporate training, is not a universal practice.
Pilar lived under the Soviet Union and vividly recalled the day of August 20, 1968, when the Soviet troops entered the City. Imagine, she carefully articulated, that you arrive home and the key no longer works to your home. Instead you realize the Soviets have taken over your home, your possessions and all your personal effects.
Then, as you begin to collect your thoughts, the somber truth creates the profound feeling of being violated. You can do nothing about this thievery. And it does not stop there; the Soviets have also moved your financial assets. All that you have worked for, all those items you held dear, are gone. You are advised of government housing that may be available to you.
As time passes, it becomes clear those people you once claimed as close friends can no longer be trusted. In fact, some of them have provided identifying data to the Soviets about you.
My friend said because of the lack of trust, your circle of contacts is very small. At times, even fathers “rat out” their sons and sons “rat out” their fathers, sisters and brothers. Out of personal survival, people train themselves not to make eye contact but to look down.
This story illustrates one of the challenges American businesses face when managing a global workforce and implementing diversity programs. Diversity is vital for American business. Diversity brings perspective in viewpoints, brings fresh ideas, and even widens a company’s customer base. Yet, cultural differences are often acute, and it is important for companies to take care to understand the culture when customizing its diversity program.
Sometimes American businesses naively think every employee can fit in the company’s culture easily. It is wise for businesses to take steps to understand that new employee, who may be from a different culture. Let’s not “look down,” but instead “look up” for new information.
