I’m about a third of the way through a fascinating book that has a lot to teach us about why mindset mismatch between cultures is such a pervasive — and pernicious — fact of life. It’s called Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain, and it’s by David M. Eagleman of Baylor College of Medicine. [...]

Back from a week of consulting in China. The organization is a new company looking to implement a new model of outsourcing. For many reasons I’m optimistic about the company’s prospects, not least of which is that the leadership combines experience from the Mainland, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the U.S. The multiple perspectives will play [...]

One of the most hackneyed Western stereotypes is that “the Chinese are inscrutable.” I’ve never really been clear on what that’s supposed to mean. I think mostly people have meant that it’s hard for a Westerner to know what a Chinese person is thinking, based on what they say. Which makes sense, given the high-context [...]

Humans are emotional beings through and through, despite our pretensions about “logic” and “rationality.” Still, now and again a logic presents itself that is so compelling that it forces us to take notice. One such logic revolves around how we judge ourselves and others, with culture winding up, per usual, at the center of things. [...]

A conversation with a caller on NPR’s Car Talk this weekend served as a reminder that despite the power of culture, and the temptation to think in absolutes, there is always wiggle room.

I’m in Beijing doing some intercultural work, and have been reminded of how easy it can be even for an American with years of experience in China to fall back into default cultural behaviors and fail to make adjustments.