Written by Rozhin Yasaei
One of the major challenges of working in a new place is understanding the customs and culture of the new environment. It can get even harder when you start working in a new country. So, here I mentioned some general tips about American culture to help you adapt faster and easier.
Start of with Being a Bit More Formal
Before going forward, it is essential to note that there is no ultimate recipe that would work for everyone and in all workplaces, and these are some general tips about American culture. Each workplace has its own unique culture that mostly depends on the management style and employees’ backgrounds. Especially in academic environments such as UCI, people have very diverse backgrounds and come from a variety of cultures. Therefore, be cautious at first. Being a little more formal is safer at first. For example, it is common in American culture to call others by their first name, even your superiors. However, it is better to call your superiors with their title at first, and they will let you know if they prefer to be called by first name or any nickname. The same rule applies to emails and written communication, as well.
Communication and Greetings
Many companies, as well as many academic groups, have social events such as gatherings or happy hours. These are great opportunities to know your colleagues better in an informal setting, make friends, and have fun. In addition, you can observe the relationship between your colleagues to learn how to interact with them.
Greetings in American culture start with an initial introduction that is followed by a handshake. People usually use their first name in the introduction and describe themselves by their occupation. Americans like to focus on the accomplishments, and you can be open about your success in the conversations. They also tend to communicate directly and talk to the point. Their communication style is usually assertive and enthusiastic. Long pauses or silences in a social chat or meeting make Americans uncomfortable. So, they often try to fill the gap. In a conversation, nod or some other sign to show that you are listening is helpful in addition to eye contact, which demonstrates warmth and openness. Avoid sensitive topics related to ethnicity, race, gender, religion, or politics when you do not know your audiences well. When conversing, maintaining enough distance from others is crucial to Americans since they like to be given personal space.
When you are passing by and see a colleague, you may ask them “How do you do?”, “How are you?”, or “How are you doing?” or they may ask you the same question. It implies being polite, and it is not a request for information about your well-being. Thus, a short answer such as “fine. Thanks.” suffice. Avoid long answers or sharing personal details in these situations. Smiling is a gesture of goodwill and politeness in American culture, and it is nice to smile or nod when passing strangers or make eye contact with them. Be generous in using “thank you” and “please” to be polite. American tends to use them a lot regardless of the rank or age. You may say “excuse me” in case you touch someone or get very close. It can be used when you do not understand something in a conversation as well.
Meetings
- Always be on time. Manage it to arrive a little early for the meetings if you are the host. Late arrival causes a bad impression.
- In the meetings, everybody is often welcome to comment and propose ideas regardless of the position or age. So, do not be afraid to speak up and share your thoughts.
- If you want to criticize an idea, make sure to mention the positive aspects first and then go through the negative points.
- Try not to get offended if your idea is criticized or don’t take it personally if a disagreement is shown with you.
- Be aware of individualism in American culture. Americans have a strong attitude of doing everything individually by themselves as they admire the self-made man as heroes. Thus, they may not be natural team players. In the meetings or even classes, you may see them speak up while you have a hard time getting the attention or the chance to speak. In this situation, try not to take it personally and try to adapt instead.
- It is always proper to ask questions. In American culture, you do not need to be ashamed to admit you do not know.