Protocol, Intercultural Communication and Diplomacy for Business
Books
Sonia Garza-Monarchi shares recommendations for "go-to" books she finds most useful.
As you know a key part of communication is body language. While you may be able to read and interpret U.S. body language the rules are often different when doing business with people from different cultures and countries. Today there are many more books available on the topic but when I first began my career there was only one and it is still my preferred resource: Gestures, The Do’s and Taboos of Body Language Around the World, by Roger E. Axtell.
Anyone who works in protocol has a copy of one or more of Letitia Baldrige’s books including the New Complete Guide to Executive Manners. I highly recommend this indispendable resource as well as her other books for anyone interested in being the best professional possible regardless of the field.
Several years ago, a friend who worked extensively in Asia recommended the book Doing Business in Asia: The Complete Guide by Sanjyot P. Dunung. It includes chapters on China, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Indonesia and many other countries. Although published in 1995, the country overviews are still relevant and include practical information on doing business in these countries.
