Book Recommendation: "The Culture Map" by Erin Meyer

I highly recommend Erin Meyer’s “The Culture Map: Breaking Through the Invisible Boundaries of Global Business.” The author presents an eight-scale framework that helps you pinpoint where different cultures sit on important dimensions: communicating (low- vs. high-context), evaluating (direct vs. indirect feedback), leading (egalitarian vs. hierarchical), deciding (consensual vs. top-down), trusting (task-based vs. relationship-based), disagreeing (confrontational vs. non-confrontational), scheduling (linear vs. flexible), and persuading (principles-first vs. applications-first).

The book helps us understand each other better. In one culture, giving feedback directly is normal; it’s a sign of honesty and respect. Meanwhile, in another culture, it’s considered very rude, especially if it happens in public rather than one-on-one.

The same goes for decision-making. For some people, decisions are set in stone — immutable. For others, decisions are fluid and subject to change. Can you imagine what would happen if two such cultures collided? The author provides specific examples.

In short, if you work in a multicultural environment, this book is a must-read.