Cross cultural understanding: a handbook to understand others’ cultures

hands in 
pockets
disinterest, 
boredom 
The obvious signal is one of 
inaction, and not being ready 
for action. Those who stand 
with hands in pockets - in 
situations where there is an 
expectation for people to be 
enthusiastic and ready for 
action - demonstrate apathy 
and lack of interest for the 
situation. 

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88 | Cross Cultural Understanding 
4.
 
Dress 
Since the time of our cave-dweller ancestors, people 
paid great deal of attention to clothes. They made clothes 
out of tree leaves, animals' hides, and now we have 
excellent apparel industries that use artificial materials to 
manufacture clothing. Our clothing is a part of our 
cultural identity.
Even the way people dress for business differs 
widely across cultures. Wearing formal clothes in all over 
the world means person is going to an interview, 
workplace, celebration, or a place where some high-
ranking people are present. Wearing informal clothes in 
all over the world means that the person is going to a 
friendly party, BBQ or an informal place. 
What do you think is happening here? 
Businessman from continental Europe, wearing a sport 
jacket and a tie, arriving for a meeting in London with his 
British counterpart wearing a suit, to be greeted with the words, 
“Did the airline lose your luggage?”. 
 
To the British partner, his Europe partner‘s choice 
of a sport jacket suggested inappropriate informality. As 
always, it is not only national cultural differences that are 
important, corporate culture can differ widely too, even 
within the same industry.

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Cross Cultural Understanding | 89 
When we understand body language we become better 
able to refine and improve what our body says about us, 
which generates a positive improvement in the way we 
feel, the way we perform, and what we achieve.