Develop an understanding of cultural anthropology.

Become a student of cultures. Pick up a few books in your local bookstore or at your local university bookstore about the study of cultures. What are the ways in which cultures differ? How did they get that way? Are there similarities across all of most cultures? What’s the role of religion? Geography? History? Economics? Natural resources? Read Will and Ariel Durant's The Lessons of History (1968) to get a great picture of how countries and cultures formed.


Build a framework for understanding cultures different from your own.
An excellent framework for understanding the dimensions that differentiate between cultures may be found in Fons Trompenaars' Riding the Waves of Culture. These dimensions are based on research that indicates that cultures differ along seven major dimensions. Cultures may be placed somewhere on each dimension and compared with other cultures in terms of the behaviors likely to be exhibited or in terms of the relative value placed on a particular competency by a given culture. The dimensions and a short definition are as follows:
· Universalistic vs. Particularistic Cultures
· In a more universalistic culture (Canada, United States) rules apply to everyone, while in a more particularistic culture (Russia, South Korea) rules are more dependent on relationships and special circumstances.
· Individualistic vs. Collectivistic Cultures
. In a more individualistic culture (Canada, United States) the individual is primarily responsible for their actions, while in a more collectivistic culture (China, Japan) the group is more important than the individual.
· Neutral vs. Affective Cultures

. In a more neutral culture (United Kingdom, Japan) self-control is prized and emotions are more closely guarded, while in a more affective culture (Italy, France) emotions are more likely to be expressed with little or no filtering.
· Specific vs. Diffuse Cultures
. In a more specific culture (Sweden, Switzerland) relationships are based on a specific purpose (you are my finance director) and personal issues or relationships are rarely mixed into the business relationship. In a more diffuse culture (Indonesia, Thailand) the boundaries between personal or business issues are often mixed and very important.
· Ascriptive vs. Achievement Cultures
. In a more ascriptive culture (Austria, Nigeria) status is more often based on family status or wealth, while in an achievement culture (United States, Australia) hard work and personal achievement have more value.
· Internal Control vs. External Control Cultures
. In a more internal control culture (West Germany prior to reunification or South Korea today) the individual is expected to be the source of action, while in a more external control culture (East Germany prior to reunification or North Korea today) the individual is more likely to be influenced by external forces and have fewer personal options. Don’t we have a better example? Western democracies on one side and China, the Middle East on the other?
· Past, Present, and Future Cultures
. Past-focused cultures are more focused on tradition and protocol (Russia); present-focused cultures are more focused on the here and now (Venezuela); while future-focused cultures are more focused on what will be the vision for tomorrow (United States).