Doing business today has become very unusual with challenges and uncertainty facing us at every turn. We have had to adapt to working from home and in many other ways in order to survive this challenging time. We will come through this, and for many of us we will have to return to an office environment to do business.
We will also have to interact with colleagues in our offices in the workplace as well as international colleagues and clients. We have to begin to sharpen those skills to get back to face-to-face meetings to close those deals. Each member of the workforce needs to sharpen their skills as well as making themselves marketable to employers. Working from home may be the ideal environment for many people, but eventually, we will have to return to a workplace.
Doing so makes it impossible not to interact with colleagues. Whatever has been happening in public life is bound to impact our behavior. For instance, because of health implications, we can no longer shake hands or give hugs to colleagues. The elbow bump has taken the place of a handshake and in order to keep safe, it has now become an acceptable greeting.
Greeting in Japan
- A bow is an accepted way of greeting someone
- Expressing thanks
- Saying I’m sorry or saying goodbye
- You can also ask a favor by using a bow
- The depth of the bow depends on the recipient’s rank or status
- The bow is an important part of Japanese business protocol
- Bows are used for expressing appreciation
- Bows convey both respect and humility
- In Japan, a handshake is giving to make westerners feel comfortable
- It’s an asset for westerners to bow, to demonstrate that they are taking the imitative to learn Japanese customs
Acceptable Public Behavior in Japan
- The American OK sign (index finger and thumb forming a circle) in Japan means money
- Pointing is considered rude, instead, wave your hand with the palm up
- It’s unacceptable in Japan to spit, snort, and sniff in public
- Blowing your nose in public is considered impolite use a disposable tissue and throw it out immediately
- Laughter may show embarrassment or distress rather than amusement
- Scratching the head is another gesture used to disguise confusion and embarrassment
- Japanese will fold their arms when they are in deep thought try not to interpret that as hostility
- Smiling is used in Japan as a form of self-control, particularly masking displeasure
- Direct eye contact is now common in Japan
- Touching in public between male and female is now acceptable, not only between couples but also with men out on the town
- In Japanese business culture, men don’t engage in backslapping, but it’s common in drinking situations after hours
- Taxi drivers in Japan don’t speak English, so always ask your host or hotel concierge to write the address your destination, and always carry a card from your hotel with the address for you to show the taxi driver.