The importance of one mannerism exemplified

I should clarify from one of my earlier blogs that while qualitative research doesn’t necessarily follow the scientific method, there are checks and balances within the method, the researcher does go in with a research question, and, while it’s harder if not impossible to generalize from the results, qualitative research does often produce anecdotal evidence which can help us to better understand people, actions and cultures.

One thing that I learned about countries in southern Africa (including South Africa and Botswana) was about – of all things – feet! In Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands under the “gestures” section the book states, “The foot is considered unclean by many South Africans. Do not move anything with your feet, and do not touch anything with your feet.”

I was able to witness the importance of this rule – though it was not in a business context. I was at the airport in Gaborone, Botswana checking in for my flight to Johannesburg, South Africa. I had met a gentleman from Holland at my hotel, and we were on the same flight and chatting in line – the long line that was not moving, I should add! When we were able to move even a centimeter, we did. Everyone in line wanted to feel we were making some progress after standing in the same spot for over 30 minutes.

At one point, we were able to move, but a man in front of us had stepped out of line. The man from Holland barely inched the man’s suitcase forward with his foot. He did not kick it; he barely nudged it – something we would do in the States without a second thought. The man who was from southern Africa blew up. He got in the man’s face and yelled, “That is not acceptable in this country! Where in the world is that acceptable?” He became violent (kicking the man’s suitcase) and said a few other things I should not write in a blog that is PG rated! He was furious and kept commenting how rude it was.

This would likely not happen in the business world, as people are often more accommodating. One would probably not be yelled and cursed at. However, it would be easy to offend someone without realizing it, and one could leave the table coming off as rude, insensitive and simply not aware – probably not the savvy image they were going for.