Q: Any tips on arranging cross-cultural meetings?

A: Here are a few points that are likely to be relevant:

• Cultural differences are many-layered, from the superficial to people’s deepest assumptions and attitudes
• Different cultures can mean different attitudes to people, relationships, language, time, achievement and the environment – almost all the things that can affect meetings!
• Understanding cultural differences is the first and most important step in avoiding potential pitfalls
• Respecting cultural differences and developing empathy for other cultures (which necessarily includes a better understanding of your own culture) should enable you to work more effectively in cross-cultural environments
• There is no one best way organise and manage meetings