Diversity and Cross-Cultural Communication

We may not be able to change our culture, but we can learn about other cultures and respect their values. This is not a matter of being politically correct or not, but about understanding that the world is a diverse place with cultures, traditions, and values we need to respect. For example, in many Asian cultures its customary to show respect by bowing when you greet someone. You should also avoid pointing your feet at people because it invokes bad luck and indicates dominance over them. Westerners are usually unfamiliar with these cultural differences. They may not know how to deal with them in the workplace or at home. Therefore, it is important to learn about these differences beforehand so one can be better prepared to deal with them.