Negotiating with people from different cultures can be tricky, especially when it comes to eye contact. How you look at someone can really change how they see you during a deal.
In some places, making strong eye contact shows that you’re confident and honest. For example, in the United States and many countries in Western Europe, it's good to look someone in the eye when you’re negotiating. It means you are interested, trustworthy, and serious about what you're discussing. Keeping your gaze steady can help you seem more powerful and earn respect during negotiations.
But be careful! Eye contact isn’t the same everywhere. In some Asian cultures, like Japan and Korea, staring at someone for too long can seem rude or threatening. In these places, looking away sometimes is better. It shows that you respect the other person’s space and are paying attention without being too direct.
Here’s a simple way to understand how eye contact can change:
From my travel experiences, I’ve learned that watching what local people do can be really helpful. If you’re in a negotiation, try to match the other person’s style of eye contact. If they look away often, do the same. If they are looking straight at you, you can look back just as directly. This shows you can adapt and helps build a connection.
Negotiating isn't just about words—body language and how we express ourselves without talking are really important too. Eye contact can either help or hurt your chances in a negotiation, depending on the culture you are in. By understanding these differences, you can handle international negotiations better and keep respect and authority in your discussions.
Negotiating with people from different cultures can be tricky, especially when it comes to eye contact. How you look at someone can really change how they see you during a deal.
In some places, making strong eye contact shows that you’re confident and honest. For example, in the United States and many countries in Western Europe, it's good to look someone in the eye when you’re negotiating. It means you are interested, trustworthy, and serious about what you're discussing. Keeping your gaze steady can help you seem more powerful and earn respect during negotiations.
But be careful! Eye contact isn’t the same everywhere. In some Asian cultures, like Japan and Korea, staring at someone for too long can seem rude or threatening. In these places, looking away sometimes is better. It shows that you respect the other person’s space and are paying attention without being too direct.
Here’s a simple way to understand how eye contact can change:
From my travel experiences, I’ve learned that watching what local people do can be really helpful. If you’re in a negotiation, try to match the other person’s style of eye contact. If they look away often, do the same. If they are looking straight at you, you can look back just as directly. This shows you can adapt and helps build a connection.
Negotiating isn't just about words—body language and how we express ourselves without talking are really important too. Eye contact can either help or hurt your chances in a negotiation, depending on the culture you are in. By understanding these differences, you can handle international negotiations better and keep respect and authority in your discussions.