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Nov 24

Thanksgiving Day

Cross Cultural Training, Cultural training for Relocation, Culture No Comments »

Can you already smell roasted turkey with stuffing and pumpkin pie? Can you hear the noise of football matches? Yes, you’re right, it’s Thanksgiving. Every year on the fourth Thursday of November Americans gather together to celebrate Thanksgiving. This tradition has been rooted in American culture for centuries, so if you are living and working in the USA or planning to do so, you should be aware of its importance and the impact it has on life and business in the USA.

Thanksgiving Christmas Dinner Sean Locke i Thanksgiving Day

© istockphoto.com/Sean Locke

Where does Thanksgiving come from?

What is considered as the first Thanksgiving in American history took place in 1621 in Plymouth plantations, where Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared a successful harvest feast. This was held to celebrate God and thank him for having guided the colonists safely to the New World. The celebration was then observed first as a religious tradition and, later, as a civil one. During the Civil War in 1863 Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving Day as a national holiday to be celebrated each November.

How is Thanksgiving celebrated?

Thanksgiving has now lost its original religious meaning for most American families. The focus of the celebration is now on spending quality time together and sharing a good meal. So what are the key ingredients of a good Thanksgiving meal? Turkey is the centrepiece of Thanksgiving and has become the main symbol of the holiday. It was probably not included in the first meal the Pilgrims shared with the Indians, but what is sure is that around 90% of Americans eat it on Thanksgiving. Either roasted, fried or baked, the turkey is usually accompanied by stuffing, potatoes, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. In addition to cooking and eating which takes a large portion of the day, Americans like to gather together to watch football, participate in parades or volunteer. Many Americans will start their Christmas shopping on the day after Thanksgiving which is often referred to as Black Friday.

Thanksgiving Tips

If you are living and working in the USA, make sure you participate in Thanksgiving celebrations and make the most of this experience. Giving the right importance to this event is central for you to integrate into American society, build friendships and make the most of your stay. Here are some tips on how to do that:

  • Do not expect your American colleagues on Thanksgiving Day. Remember: it is a national holiday and offices are kept closed all day
  • Thank your colleagues for their hard work, collaboration or companionship with a Thanksgiving card or a simple note on the day
  • If you are hosting a Thanksgiving dinner, accept with enthusiasm any food your guests offer to bring
  • If you are invited to dinner bring a gift and write a thank you note
  • Show an interest in American football games as these are often a big part of Thanksgiving celebrations
  • If invited to someone’s home, offer to help with the preparations. Thanksgiving is a family affair and almost everyone plays a role in getting it all ready, even guests

If you are planning to move to the USA or work with American counterparts you might want to improve your knowledge about American culture by attending a cultural awareness training programme like Living and Working in the USA. It will teach you more about American customs, traditions and values and help you develop the skills to build better relationships with your American colleagues.

Happy Thanksgiving!

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2011

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Nov 03

Bonfire Night: An Essential British Experience for Anyone Living and Working in Great Britain

Cross Cultural Training, Cultural training for Relocation, Culture No Comments »

Every year on 5 November people in Great Britain celebrate Bonfire Night, also known as Guy Fawkes Night. Anyone living and working in Great Britain should be aware of this tradition as it can be a great opportunity to experience local culture and socialise with friends and family. Understanding British customs and traditions can also help you to more effectively integrate into British society and establish better working relationships with your British counterparts.

Fireworks ludwig wagner i Bonfire Night: An Essential British Experience for Anyone Living and Working in Great Britain

© istockphoto.com/Ludwig Wagner

So what is Bonfire Night and how is it celebrated? Bonfire Night commemorates the events of 5 November 1605 which are sometimes also referred to as the Gunpowder Plot. The protagonist of these events was a man called Guy Fawkes who was part of a group of English Catholics who were unhappy with the protestant King. Guy Fawkes, Robert Catesby and a group of other Catholics started plotting the King’s assassination.

On the night of 5 November the conspirators attempted to kill the King by placing some explosives under the House of Lords. Their aim was to kill the King as well as many other members of the monarchy and government. One of the most active participants in this murder attempt was Guy Fawkes who was responsible for guarding the explosives in a cellar under the House of Lords. The plan was foiled and Guy Fawkes was caught in the cellar. After being tortured for several days, he confessed and was then executed.

On that same night in 1605 people set bonfires alight to celebrate the King’s survival. This tradition has been respected ever since and people all over Great Britain and in some Commonwealth nations like New Zealand and Australia celebrate this day with bonfires and fireworks. In addition to bonfires and fireworks, some will make “guys” – effigies of Guy Fawkes made out of old clothes and newspapers that will then be burnt in the bonfires.

Another tradition observed on this day is the State Opening of Parliament. Ever since these events of 1605, the King or Queen will traditionally only enter Parliament once a year on 5 November. Before the event, the cellars of the Palace of Westminster are inspected by the Yeomen of the Guard to assure the monarch’s safety and commemorate and celebrate the historical event.

Being aware of traditions and customs like this can help anyone living and working in Great Britain to understand the culture. Attending a cross cultural training programme like Living and Working in Great Britain will provide you with all the information you need about British customs and traditions like Bonfire Night as well as other useful information on British social and business culture.

So if you are living and working in Great Britain be sure to take part in one of the events going on in London or other cities in Great Britain this weekend.

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2011

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Oct 26

Diwali – The Festival of Lights

Cross Cultural Training, Cultural training for Relocation, Culture No Comments »

Diwali is one of the most important Hindu festivals. During this festival, houses are illuminated with a myriad of candles and small lamps called Diyas. The name Diwali is an abbreviation of the word Deepavali which literally means “row of lights”. Most people refer to this holiday in English as the “Festival of Lights”. Diwali usually occurs between mid-October and mid-November and lasts for five days. Anyone living and working in India or doing business with Indian counterparts should be aware of the importance of this holiday and how it impacts Indian culture and life each year.

Diwali Diyas© Kulpreet Photography i5 Diwali – The Festival of Lights

© istockphoto.com/Kulpreet

Celebrations of Diwali in India have ancient religious origins. Each of the five days of this festival celebrates a particular legend or story. The first day of Diwali, for example, is Dhanteras and usually marks the beginning of the financial year as it is believed to be a time for wealth and prosperity. On this first day of the festival people pray to the Goddess of Wealth, Lakshmi, who people guide into their homes by lighting candles and diyas in their houses and on the streets.

Another legend commemorated during Diwali is about Rama and his wife Sita who he saved from the demon Ravana before returning to Ayodhya to become king. On their way back, Rama and his wife could not see as it was a very dark night, so people placed lamps outside their houses to help them find their way home.

Diwali is celebrated in different ways across India and other countries. For example people in Northern India tend to celebrate Rama’s legend while in Gujarat and Maharashtra they celebrate the Goddess Lakshmi more. In Nepal the festival focuses on the defeat of the demon king Narakaasura by Lord Krishna, while in Bengal they tend to focus on celebrating the Goddess Kali. Despite these differences, there are a few main ideas that remain the same everywhere: light triumphs over darkness, good supersedes evil and knowledge prevails over ignorance.

Before the start of Diwali festivals people redecorate their homes and draw traditional motifs of ‘rangoli’ at the entrances. They also wear new clothes and prepare big festive meals. People also decorate their houses lighting Diyas and big firework displays in celebration are a tradition.

During Diwali one of the most important rituals is the exchange of gifts to show love and affection to family members and friends. Even people who live far from their families usually send greetings and gifts to their beloved at home. Common gifts are flowers, sweets, dry fruit and nuts, clothes and silver or gold items such as jewellery or other decorative objects.

Diwali is celebrated around the world by Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs and Jains. Anyone living and working in India or other countries including Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore should be aware of how Diwali impacts daily life in this period.

Here are some tips to help you show respect and work effectively with your Indian counterparts during this holiday.

  • Plan meetings without interfering with Diwali’s celebration. Be aware that a lot of business people will take the day off in preparation for a new accounting year and to spend time with their families.
  • Don’t set any project deadlines that coincide with Diwali.
  • If you work regularly with people who celebrate Diwali, you can show respect for their tradition and your relationship by giving them a small gift such as a box of sweets or nuts. If you cannot give them a gift, a small greeting by email would also be appreciated.
  • Indians tend to spend lots of money on the first day of Diwali buying presents and shopping in general, so if you are with them accept any generosity graciously.
  • Don’t say “no” to an invite to Diwali celebrations. This can be a great to way to build relationships with your colleagues and experience a unique cultural festival.
  • If invited to Diwali celebrations, or if sharing a meal with colleagues who celebrate Diwali, avoid drinking alcohol.

Cross cultural awareness training programmes like Living and Working in India or Doing Business in India can provide you with the essential knowledge you need about the country and its culture. By showing an understanding of key Indian traditions or holidays like Diwali, you can build more effective social and business relationships which will create more value in the long-term.

Don’t forget to send your colleagues a traditional Diwali greeting in the appropriate language!

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2011

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Sep 15

Working Effectively across Cultures: Understanding the Rules behind Intercultural Greetings

Cross Cultural Training, Culture 2 Comments »

Touching is arguably one of the most sensitive aspects of interacting, whether in a business or social context. When interactions take place with people from different cultural backgrounds, touching becomes even more difficult to grasp as the very perception of touching and the meaning behind physical contact can differ widely across cultures. Working effectively across cultures requires the ability to understand what kind of physical contact is appropriate and when in different contexts.

Business Woman shaking hands i Working Effectively across Cultures: Understanding the Rules behind Intercultural Greetings

© istockphoto.com

Simon Kuper, a British expatriate living in Paris recently shared several anecdotes of experiences he had visiting friends in the UK in an article published in the Financial Times. After living in Paris for some time, he and his wife grew accustomed to many French habits. When he returned to the UK he found that his British family and friends were surprised when he greeted them in the typical French way with a kiss on each cheek. Interested in this concept, Kuper also looked at how people greet each other in the US and discovered many differences when compared to French customs and behaviours around physical contact.

Based on his experience, Kuper suggests that the French tend to “sexualise” initial meetings between people even if no romance is involved between the participants. There is no such feeling when Brits or Americans greet each other. In fact, Brits and Americans appreciate having personal space and will tend to avoid touch as much as possible, except with close family or friends who they may greet with a small hug or kiss on the cheek. Anything beyond this may be perceived as an invasion of personal space and could cause offense or an unintended reaction.

This concept of personal space might be difficult to understand when working across cultures. A physical gesture which is considered appropriate in one culture might be frowned upon in another and vice-versa. Breaching someone’s personal space might cause uneasiness or misunderstanding that could lead to cross-cultural clashes or incidents.

From how you greet someone or console a team member to how you congratulate an acquaintance, it’s important to develop your understanding of how to communicate physically to avoid any cultural faux-pas or cultural misinterpretation when working across cultures. A Working Effectively across Cultures programme is a great first step towards understanding how you are perceived and how you need to adapt your behaviours in a global context so that you have the right impact.

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2011

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Aug 01

Becoming an Internationalist – Developing Cross Cultural Awareness

Cross Cultural Training, Culture, Culture training for Business & Management No Comments »

According to BBC World News, internationalists are a cosmopolitan group of global citizens with an international outlook and a deep cross cultural awareness.  Internationalists tend to be very successful in business, largely due to their global understanding of the world and cross-cultural leadership skills.

To give you a better idea of what an internationalist might look like let’s take a look at Tom.

Globe Kasia i Becoming an Internationalist Developing Cross Cultural Awareness

© istockphoto.com/(Kasia)

Tom was born in the UK, raised in France and studied in Mexico. At the age of 37, Tom speaks English, French and Spanish fluently. Tom has an important role as a manager in an international company and spends a lot of time travelling around the world for business and leisure. Tom’s exposure and familiarity with many different cultures has helped him to develop a high level of cross cultural awareness which helps him do business successfully around the world.

When he travels, Tom values experiencing and discovering different values and traditions. He shows enormous respect towards the new cultures he visits and always tries to understand and appreciate the local rites rather than impose his own culture and vision of the world. Tom actively seeks dialogue with locals and is not afraid to experience local food and customs. Keen to learn and adapt to as many situations as he can, Tom has a truly global mindset. In other words, Tom is acutely aware of global issues and how geopolitical and cultural forces impact international business.

Tom is an important decision maker and has developed strong cross-cultural negotiation and influencing skills through his various experiences where he has brilliantly succeeded. Indeed, his global state of mind helps him to value diversity and seek people from different cultures and backgrounds rather than people similar to himself.

Tom is an early adopter and always tries to have the latest technology that help him to stay connected to the world. Tom’s smartphone, iPad and laptop all help him to actively follow international media. Through reading news magazines and newspapers, watching news channels in hotel rooms and in-flight entertainment on planes such as CNN International and BBC World News, Tom stays up-to-date with the latest happenings in the global arena.

Tom and his wife Liz are working hard to ensure that their children develop a similar global mindset and awareness and openness to different cultures by speaking to them in different languages and taking them on trips around the world.

Tom is fairly unique in his ability to adapt to other cultures and sees the world through a truly global lens, however with some effort, anyone can develop the skills required to be effective in an international environment. Cross cultural awareness training is one way people can improve their international skills. Volunteering to manage international projects, travelling to different countries on holiday and speaking to people from different cultures within your organisation can all help you to work more effectively internationally.

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2011

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Feb 03

Impact of Stereotypes on International Business: Cross Cultural Awareness is Key

Cross Cultural Training, Cultural training for Relocation, Culture, Culture training for Business & Management, Culture training for Human Resources, Culture training for the Public sector No Comments »

Globalisation and the emergence of cross cultural business have tremendously reshaped our working environment over the last fifteen years.  People around the world are increasingly finding themselves working with colleagues and counterparts from another culture.  Dealing with such diversity is complex and requires a high level of cross cultural competence that you can develop through cross cultural awareness training.

To make sense of all these differences we tend to classify people into specific categories such as the company they work for or their own culture. This classification provides us with references about certain groups of people and helps us begin to understand their attitudes. You could say for example that Spanish people tend to speak more loudly than British do and Brazilians tend to be more affective than Finnish. While there are some relative truths to these statements, such stereotypical representations are often over-simplified and could lead to false assumptions.

Clock DNY59 i Impact of Stereotypes on International Business: Cross Cultural Awareness is Key

© istockphoto.com/ DNY59

Stereotypes, taken-for-granted beliefs about our counterparts’ habits and behaviour, can affect our own attitudes and expectations when communicating with other cultures. The main purpose of stereotypes is to help us when we are dealing with a culture we do not know and to give us the illusion of a predictable pattern we could learn and thus know how to react to any given cross cultural situation.

For instance, when doing business in Italy we might expect our Italian counterparts to be late for a meeting whereas a Swiss would always be punctual and well organised. However it would be inappropriate to assume that no Italian would ever be on time and no Swiss would ever be late. Hence, cross cultural stereotypes need to be treated carefully as they might have a negative impact on our thinking and our capacity to perceive things with discernment.

Whether stereotypes are commonly shared among society or progressively developed through our direct experience in cross cultural relations, it is crucial to keep questioning their relevance. By doing so, we would certainly prevent ourselves from judging our international counterparts on the basis of wrong assumptions leading to inappropriate cross cultural behaviour and critical incidents.

Stereotypes can however be perceived as the first stage of acknowledging the existence of cross cultural differences which is an initial step towards the development of a higher level of cross cultural awareness and competence. However stereotypes need to be questioned, mitigated and never taken for granted if they are to help us to work more effectively in a cross cultural context.

Cross cultural awareness training courses such as Developing Global Competence or Building International Teams can help you to identify and deal with cross cultural differences which will improve your capacity to develop and maintain successful cross cultural relations. By providing you with a foundation of cross cultural understanding, Communicaid’s Cross cultural awareness training courses can ensure you understand your counterparts’ behaviour without having to rely on stereotypes that could lead to cross cultural misunderstandings and negative impressions.

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2011

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Feb 01

The Year of the Rabbit – Beliefs and Superstitions when Doing Business in China

Cross Cultural Training, Cultural training for Relocation, Culture, Culture training for Business & Management, Culture training for Human Resources, Culture training for the Public sector No Comments »

Are you doing business in China and wondering what all the interest is right now around the new year of the rabbit? Or perhaps you’ve noticed that there are good offers on Chinese foods in the supermarket this week? Maybe you’ve heard of Chinese New Year, but do you know what it is and why it’s celebrated now and not in January?

Chinese people around the world are getting ready to welcome their New Year on Thursday February 3rd. For about 15 days Chinese will celebrate, focus on certain practices and reflect on their lives. Anyone doing business in China or working with Chinese counterparts during this time should be aware of the Chinese New Year and how it might impact you.

Chinese laterns 3 tom hall i The Year of the Rabbit – Beliefs and Superstitions when Doing Business in China

© istockphoto.com/ Tom Hall

The Chinese calendar is a lunar one, just like the Western calendar, with the start of each year coinciding with a new cycle of the moon. A full cycle lasts 60 years and is divided into five further cycles, each lasting twelve years. Each year is named after an animal. Much like Western zodiac signs, each animal in the Chinese calendar has particular characteristics that many Chinese believe will influence the lives of those born under its sign.

This year 3 February will see the end of the year of the Tiger and the beginning of the year of the Rabbit. The Rabbit is considered as calm and sophisticated, a kind of classy peacemaker who likes artistic ventures as well as the tranquillity of home. Those who are born in the Year of the Rabbit are often described as strong, relaxed and friendly as well as compassionate and creative. In terms of careers, Rabbits are believed to make good philosophers, politicians or doctors.

Knowing what year it is in the zodiac calendar and what sign you are can be a nice way to start a conversation and build a relationship when doing business in China. If you’re not sure what Chinese zodiac sign you are, take a look at the following table:

Rat 1924 1936 1948 1960 1972 1984 1996 2008
Ox 1925 1937 1949 1961 1973 1985 1997 2009
Tiger 1926 1938 1950 1962 1974 1986 1998 2010
Rabbit 1927 1939 1951 1963 1975 1987 1999 2011
Dragon 1928 1940 1952 1964 1976 1988 2000 2012
Snake 1929 1941 1953 1965 1977 1989 2001 2013
Horse 1930 1942 1954 1966 1978 1990 2002 2014
Sheep 1931 1943 1955 1967 1979 1991 2003 2015
Monkey 1932 1944 1956 1968 1980 1992 2004 2016
Rooster 1933 1945 1957 1969 1981 1993 2005 2017
Dog 1934 1946 1958 1970 1982 1994 2006 2018
Pig 1935 1947 1959 1971 1983 1995 2007 2019

Someone with a Western and perhaps more scientific or rational viewpoint may be reluctant to consider such ideas as anything more than superstition. As China is home to an ever growing and modernising middle class, it is becoming increasingly difficult to measure the influence of such old traditional ideas on Chinese society. But while China’s rise is undoubtedly a modern phenomenon, Chinese society remains rich with trends and traditions that have roots going back millennia.

Understanding the intricacies of such a reality requires a clear understanding of how traditional values influence modern day Chinese behaviours, both in business and in everyday life. Anyone doing business in China should take a cultural awareness training course to develop the required understanding, skills and strategies to effectively navigate the complexities of Chinese culture. Showing an appreciation for and understanding of traditions like Chinese New Year will go a long way towards building effective and long-term relationships when doing business in New Year.

In the meantime, don’t hesitate to send a friendly greeting to your Chinese counterparts this Thursday. Or as in the traditional Chinese custom on New Year, you could give them a small gift wrapped in red paper or in a traditional Chinese red envelope.

May the year of the rabbit bring you much success and happiness!

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2011

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Dec 21

How Can Sports Help Expats More Effectively Manage an International Assignment?

Cross Cultural Training, Cultural training for Relocation, Culture No Comments »

Relocating to another country can be a challenging experience for many international assignees. Cultural differences international assignees may encounter in the food, language, working practices or cultural values can lead to culture shock. The ability to effectively manage culture shock and cultural difference is crucial to the success of the international assignment. A cultural awareness training for relocation course can help expats to more effectively manage the challenges of living and working in a new country through developing strategies to stay active, meet people and find new hobbies in the target culture.

Football Adam Kazmierski i How Can Sports Help Expats More Effectively Manage an International Assignment?

© istockphoto.com/ Adam Kazmierski

Finding new hobbies is an excellent way to successfully adapt to a new culture but it can sometimes be a challenge as many international assignees search only for things they did in their home country. There are many new hobbies and activities expatriates can get involved in that can bring immense benefit to them. Expatriates living in South East Asia recently discovered this when they opened a Gaelic Football club.

Gaelic football was played widely in Ireland during the 19th century and came to South East Asia through international assignees coming from the UK. Surprisingly, this sport was well received and the locals joined expatriates in creating several teams which are now competing against each other across China, South Korea, Malaysia and Thailand. Joe Trolan recently described Gaelic Football in the Korean Times as a real bridge between British international assignees and Koreans.

Some find it strange to see a traditional Gaelic sport spreading throughout South East Asia but this is a perfect illustration of sport’s uncanny ability to bridge cultural differences and ease intercultural communication. Indeed, sport is a great way to overcome cultural differences.

One of the best examples of this is football, commonly called the “world game”. Football’s unrivalled popularity and ability to bring different cultures together is proven through the many tournaments across countries and cups like the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Football is not the only sport that creates bridges between cultures. Cricket, for instance is equally popular in the UK, Australia and India, thanks to the common past shared by both countries. Japan, Korea and the US share the same passion for baseball while ice hockey enjoys an enormous popularity both in Eastern Europe and North America.

These sports and many others are instrumental in bringing cultures together around the world and helping expatriates effectively manage their international assignment. Whether playing together with locals and other expats in a league or watching a sports event together, sports can break down barriers of cultural difference and help expats build relationships that will improve their international assignment.

Playing or watching sports on an international assignment is just one thing expats can do to ensure their success abroad. Understanding the key cultural values of their own culture and their host culture and being able to effectively manage these differences is essential. A cultural awareness training for relocation course can give international assignees the cultural insights and strategies they need to overcome the main challenges of an international assignment.

Knowing how a culture operates and how to build relationships with people in the target country will help expats throughout their international assignment. The cultural awareness, knowledge and skills expats can gain from a cultural awareness training for relocation course can also help them to perform more effectively in any sport they decide to play as an expat, making international assignment more enjoyable.

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2010

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Nov 30

Cultural Sensitivity Training – Helping your Company to Work Successfully across Cultures

Cross Cultural Training, Culture, Culture training for Business & Management, Culture training for Human Resources No Comments »

Working across cultures is commonly seen as a challenging experience, with many obstacles and differences often hindering progress or success. Even the best employees can fail when they are operating outside their usual and familiar cultural context. Working successfully across cultures does not have to be challenging, however, especially if you have the right intercultural knowledge, support and cultural sensitivity training. There are several examples of successful international managers who have proven that it is possible to succeed in a cross cultural context.

Business Meeting 13 track5 i Cultural Sensitivity Training – Helping your Company to Work Successfully across Cultures

© istockphoto.com/ Track 5

Is there some kind of “secret recipe” to ensure this success? Schools of global management like Thunderbird University claim that a global mindset increases the cultural sensitivity of international managers, allowing them to excel regardless of the culture they are dealing with. But what exactly do we mean by “cultural sensitivity”?

Anyone with a high level of cultural sensitivity will adapt more easily and effectively to the values, attitudes and communication styles of another culture. With a high level of cultural sensitivity, international managers or members of international teams are able to better understand and harness the potential of their multicultural team. Cultural sensitivity can help anyone working across cultures recognise what motivates people in that culture and know how to reward performance while avoiding cultural faux pas and incidents that could put the cohesion and success of the team at risk.

Cultural sensitivity can also be useful for companies when it comes to selling to or making strategic decisions with organisations or individuals from a different culture. Many western brands have shown a terrible lack of cultural sensitivity when they tried to do business across cultures. When Pepsi used light blue for its product packaging in South East Asia, for instance, they did not realise that light blue was actually the colour of mourning in that specific culture so sales decreased and Pepsi lost money changing their marketing campaign. Providing cultural sensitivity training to the Pepsi team responsible for this new branding could have helped avoid a costly and unnecessary situation.

Developing cultural sensitivity can take time but it can be increased through experience working across cultures.  Employees working across cultures can benefit immensely from cultural sensitivity training courses which will give them a solid cross cultural framework and skills to help them to avoid cultural pitfalls and misunderstandings. The combination of international exposure and cultural sensitivity training will give anyone working across cultures the skills they need to reach their full potential in any cultural environment.

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2010

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Oct 26

The Ryder Cup – When Culture Meets Sport

Cross Cultural Training, Culture 1 Comment »

The recent 2010 Ryder Cup, arguably the most exiting golf event of the season, proved to be a success with millions of golf fans around the world. The competition, which takes place every two years,  brings together the best players from the US and Europe.

Golf Dan Bachman i The Ryder Cup – When Culture Meets Sport

© istockphoto.com/ Dan Bachman

The origins of the Ryder Cup remain a mystery. Most believe it stems from American journalist James Harnett who had the idea to have a US/UK golf tournament in 1920. A lack of sponsors forced him to abandon his idea however until Samuel Ryder decided in 1926 to officially create a tournament and provided the cup that now bears his name.

From 1927 to 1977, the tournament only included teams from the US and the UK. For 50 years the US domination was overwhelming as they managed to win 19 out of 22 tournaments. In 1979 other European countries were able to enter the competition, transforming the British team into the European team. This modification had a major impact on the success of the European team which has subsequently won nine out of the sixteen Ryder Cups played since .

The Ryder Cup is a fantastic occasion for Europeans and Americans to compete. While playing styles and techniques may vary from one continent to another, cultural values and differences have also contributed (and still do) to some of the most memorable moments.

One of the best examples of cultural difference at the Ryder Cup was the controversy that occurred during the tournament played at Brookline, Massachusetts in 1999. During the last game, American Justin Leonard successfully holed a a very long putt against his opponent, the Spaniard José María Olazábal. The US team, who were following this crucial match, ran onto the green to celebrate and congratulate their player before Olazábal had been allowed to putt out.

The US team did not break any written rules (albeit sportsmanship was ignored) but their behaviour was highly criticised by the British European captain Mark James who described it as an unacceptable lack of self control. Some may view this as a mere sporting controversy but it is in fact a perfect illustration of how different the US and the UK can be. The expression of strong feelings is perfectly understandable and acceptable in the US, but it is seen as unacceptable by the British as well as many other European cultures.

This incident shows us that while sports like golf can bring together cultures, it can also reveal our cultural differences. As a result, even sportsmen can widely benefit from cultural awareness training courses. In the case of the Ryder Cup, cultural awareness training could be interesting, especially for the European team, as it is brings together players from a multitude of countries across Europe and therefore combines many different cultural attitudes and preferences. Cross cultural training could also help the two teams to socialise and interact more smoothly on and off the course.

This year the Ryder Cup was free of any cultural clashes or misunderstandings and victorious for the European team. However, there is no doubt that the US team will muster its cultural strengths and winning desire to secure a victory in future tournaments.

© Communicaid Group Ltd.2010

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