Comments on: Become Fluent in Body Language http://blog.rogersradiointernet.com/afternoondrive/2008/07/15/become-fluent-in-body-language/ Just another Rogers Radio Blog weblog Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:07:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.2.3-2.2.1 By: Alex http://blog.rogersradiointernet.com/afternoondrive/2008/07/15/become-fluent-in-body-language/#comment-1826 Alex Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:17:06 +0000 http://blog.rogersradiointernet.com/afternoondrive/2008/07/15/become-fluent-in-body-language/#comment-1826 Hey Carly! What about this? Guys crossing their legs like girls. A very common scene in Japan. Or is the situation worse than I thought? I went to a job interview (in Japan) and the interviewer asked me to have a seat so did I. I crossed my legs (not like a girl) while waiting, until he returned and asked me to move on into his office to have the interview started. What was the first thing he said?! "I emu sori tu shei zato bato you kenoto shito curoshingu youa regusu raiku zato?" (READ TRANSLATION AT THE END OF THIS POSTING). #2 of hundreds - my Japanese co-worker coughs every 30 seconds whenever I am around. #3 of hundreds - looking at nothing when talking to someone. #4 of hundreds - bad smell (salive) - this one is very funny! Really! I remember seeing a famous US band on a japanese music channel saying at the end of the interview "...and Japanese fans... B-R-U-S-H Y-O-U-R T-E-E-T-H !!!" then I realised I wans't the only one feeling like an alien up here. (PS: still this week I saw a Japanese VJ giving the very same advice again. There seem to be a unofficial preventive campaign going on here!) #5 - my kiwi friend always have his favourite mags pretty well protected in his plastic bags whenever we go out (is that becouse we are i Japan?) (TRANSLATION: "I'm sorry to say that but you cannot sit crossing you legs like that?) Like that? (like a male?) So, after that I decided not to cross my legs any way when getting in their domains for an interview. PS: NO RACISM THOUGHTS HERE! ANYONE ANYWHERE COULD BE WEIRD. STOP THE WAR! STOP RACISM! BUT BRUSH YOUR TEETH! <em>Carly's Note: Brushing teeth is a hygiene issue and the coughing co-worker could have an allergy to your clothes detergent, but everything else sounds like cultural differences to me. Maybe crossing your legs as you say "like a man" is considered rude or a "come on" in Japan because your crotch is on display (hopefully you were at least wearing pants :-). In some cultures, looking someone in the eye is considered disrespectful, especially if you're considered to have higher status in that society. I travelled to Morocco a few years back and had to constantly remind myself not to offer items (food, payment, whatever) with my left hand to the locals. It may seem ridiculous to us, but it's offensive to them and we have to respect that. I guess the lesson is, "when in Rome, do as the Romans do".</em> Hey Carly! What about this? Guys crossing their legs like girls. A very common scene in Japan. Or is the situation worse than I thought? I went to a job interview (in Japan) and the interviewer asked me to have a seat so did I. I crossed my legs (not like a girl) while waiting, until he returned and asked me to move on into his office to have the interview started. What was the first thing he said?! “I emu sori tu shei zato bato you kenoto shito curoshingu youa regusu raiku zato?” (READ TRANSLATION AT THE END OF THIS POSTING).
#2 of hundreds - my Japanese co-worker coughs every 30 seconds whenever I am around.
#3 of hundreds - looking at nothing when talking to someone.
#4 of hundreds - bad smell (salive) - this one is very funny! Really! I remember seeing a famous US band on a japanese music channel saying at the end of the interview “…and Japanese fans… B-R-U-S-H Y-O-U-R T-E-E-T-H !!!” then I realised I wans’t the only one feeling like an alien up here. (PS: still this week I saw a Japanese VJ giving the very same advice again. There seem to be a unofficial preventive campaign going on here!)
#5 - my kiwi friend always have his favourite mags pretty well protected in his plastic bags whenever we go out (is that becouse we are i Japan?)
(TRANSLATION: “I’m sorry to say that but you cannot sit crossing you legs like that?) Like that? (like a male?) So, after that I decided not to cross my legs any way when getting in their domains for an interview.
PS: NO RACISM THOUGHTS HERE! ANYONE ANYWHERE COULD BE WEIRD.
STOP THE WAR! STOP RACISM! BUT BRUSH YOUR TEETH!

Carly’s Note: Brushing teeth is a hygiene issue and the coughing co-worker could have an allergy to your clothes detergent, but everything else sounds like cultural differences to me. Maybe crossing your legs as you say “like a man” is considered rude or a “come on” in Japan because your crotch is on display (hopefully you were at least wearing pants :-). In some cultures, looking someone in the eye is considered disrespectful, especially if you’re considered to have higher status in that society. I travelled to Morocco a few years back and had to constantly remind myself not to offer items (food, payment, whatever) with my left hand to the locals. It may seem ridiculous to us, but it’s offensive to them and we have to respect that. I guess the lesson is, “when in Rome, do as the Romans do”.

]]> By: Dave http://blog.rogersradiointernet.com/afternoondrive/2008/07/15/become-fluent-in-body-language/#comment-1798 Dave Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:04:12 +0000 http://blog.rogersradiointernet.com/afternoondrive/2008/07/15/become-fluent-in-body-language/#comment-1798 Hi Carly, Yes i would agree with the points you made about body language. I'm in sales & marketing so when i'm in a meeting or making a presentation I'm always checking the audience for clues to see if they are understanding the material or if they are drifting off and i need to change gears or even cut the meeting short. My previous boss would pride himself on being very passionate about our company and our products but he would always go 800 miles a minute in his presentations and would neglect to check to see that his audience was getting peeved and fidgety at his lack of respect for their time. many of them told me that they were so happy when he retired. I once read that if you are interviewing for a job they make up their mind about you in about 11 seconds! I guess it pays to shine your shoes and have a firm but not bone-crushing handshake eh? Have a great day and enjoy the warm weather while it lasts. <em>Carly's Note: I totally agree! Knowing how to read your audience is essential. When planning a presentation, know ahead of time what you can skip over if you're losing them or what you can elaborate on creatively if they're really into it.</em> Hi Carly,
Yes i would agree with the points you made about body language.
I’m in sales & marketing so when i’m in a meeting or making a presentation I’m always checking the audience for clues to see if they are understanding the material or if they are drifting off and i need to change gears or even cut the meeting short.
My previous boss would pride himself on being very passionate about our company and our products but he would always go 800 miles a minute in his presentations and would neglect to check to see that his audience was getting peeved and fidgety at his lack of respect for their time. many of them told me that they were so happy when he retired.
I once read that if you are interviewing for a job they make up their mind about you in about 11 seconds! I guess it pays to shine your shoes and have a firm but not bone-crushing handshake eh?
Have a great day and enjoy the warm weather while it lasts.

Carly’s Note: I totally agree! Knowing how to read your audience is essential. When planning a presentation, know ahead of time what you can skip over if you’re losing them or what you can elaborate on creatively if they’re really into it.

]]>