International Social Etiquette

The Essentials of International Social Etiquette and Protocol – Are You Up to Speed?

In today’s vastly interconnected world, it is not uncommon to find yourself conducting business or interacting socially with persons from different countries and cultures. This makes knowledge of international social etiquette and protocol an indispensable asset.

In this article, you’ll learn some basic yet crucial rules of international social etiquette and protocol. Let’s start off, however, with a look at the benefits of knowing the rules.

5 Benefits of Learning International Social Etiquette and Protocol

Observing the rules of etiquette means displaying proper social behaviour to suit an occasion or setting. Here are some of the many benefits you will reap when you learn proper international social etiquette and protocol.

You are able to make a great first impression. The last thing you want to do is offend someone the very first time you meet them. It is best to know beforehand what is acceptable behaviour and the protocols to be observed.

Your show of respect will, most likely, be reciprocated. One of the easiest ways to earn respect is by showing respect for someone else’s culture or their ceremonial practices.

You are at ease in both formal and informal settings. Fine dining etiquette, for example, is much different from the etiquette of casual dining.
You master the art of non-verbal communication. This includes the meaning behind different types of handshakes; the nuances of body posture; and the wealth of information conveyed by slight variations in facial expression.

You become a better host and a better guest. For example, knowing protocol and order of precedence is vitally important for a host when putting together a seating plan or coordinating a receiving line.

Some Interesting International Social Etiquette and Protocol Rules

Dining

1. In Greece, try to eat all the food on your plate. Leaving any behind is taken to mean you did not like the food.
2. In China, it is considered poor etiquette to clean your plate. Always leave a little food behind since eating it all suggests that your host did not serve you enough food.
3. In Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and other Muslim countries, proper etiquette dictates that you never eat with your left hand. In these countries, the left hand is used during toileting.
   Shoes
4. In Japan, always remove your shoes before entering someone’s home. Be sure to graciously accept the pair of hallway slippers that will be handed to you instead.
5. In India, ask whether it is acceptable for you to enter someone’s home wearing your shoes. Many Indian homes have a no-shoe policy.
6. In Switzerland, take off your shoes at the door and place them in a neat line against the wall.

Pointing

7. In Vietnam, it is considered rude to point with a finger. Use your whole hand, instead.
8. In Ghana, it is extremely impolite to point at someone with your index finger. It is acceptable, however, if you are pointing at an inanimate object.
9. In Nicaragua, it is the custom to point with puckered lips instead of with a finger.

Cheek Kissing

10. In Colombia, it is customary to greet someone with a single kiss on the cheek, right cheek-to-right cheek. There is one crucial exception for this rule, though: man-to-man kissing. Unlike Argentinians, Colombian males don’t usually kiss each other, preferred is the handshake of verbal greeting. The single cheek kiss is also expected in Chile and Peru.
11. In Spain, proper social behaviour calls for two cheek kisses when greeting someone – one on either cheek, from your left to the right. The double cheek kiss is also the norm in Croatia and Hungary.
12. In Belgium, Russia the custom is to greet someone with three cheek kisses, this interaction is more a kissing of the air near the person’s cheek which always starts with the left cheek. It’s very important to mention that men never kiss other men, they usually shake hands with a firm grip.