Thailand is one of the countries that I have always wanted to move to for both business and tourism. Despite my little knowledge about the country, I have come across ads talking about the country and its good culture. This has developed my curiosity to understand some of the things that pertain to the nation. Central Thai is the main language spoken in Thailand and is usually used for governmental as well as administrative purposes throughout the country. However, other languages such as and Lao, Isan, and Northern Thai are spoken in the country. English is also becoming a common language as the country continues opening up to the rest of the world in regards to business. Majority of the people are Buddhists, but Islam also forms a considerable part of society.
What do you need to know about this country before you go?
Before going to Thailand, I need to understand the cultural norms that govern society. It is in particular important to understand etiquette, time management, and relationship issues in the Thai culture. Understanding how meetings are conducted, the relationship between people, and the dressing code required is essential. America’s culture is different from that in Thailand, and it is upon me to understand how to conduct myself in the society to avoid any conflict and to promote positive coexistence. The religion is also something that is important to understand as it helps in knowing how to address the people and some of the things that one needs to avoid for peaceful coexistence and success in Thailand.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
What are the cultural norms and faux pas?
The country has absolute reverence, as it is a constitutional monarchy. All the people highly respect the king due to his service; his picture is placed inn various places all over the country. One is always required to stand when the anthem is played before events. Insulting the king and the royals are also prohibited as the people hold the office with high regards. To promote nationalism, the country has a habit of playing the national anthem twice a day, and everyone is expected to stand as a sign of patriotism.
One of the positive things about the country is that it has sexual tolerance. The country is also safe for LGBTQ travelers. Moreover, one is not allowed to touch women if they do not allow the touching to take place. Sexual tolerance in the country has made it an ideal destination for businesses that want to invest in the region.
Thais do not recommend touching someone’s head or hitting someone’s head with a hand. This is only except if it is a child, which is considered a form of blessing the child. Consequently, pointing with the feet or stepping on something that is not supposed to have any feet is usually considered rude. According to the country’s religion, the head is the most valued part of the body while the feet are thought to be the lowest as they are a symbol of attachment and hence a cause of human suffering. This explains why shoes are to be removed when one is entering the homes. Although most types of attires are allowed in those areas where tourists visit, one needs to cover up when they visit the temples or the shrines.
Religion objects are one of the common elements that one finds in Thailand. People tend to make use of these objects to worship. In return, spirit houses or considered altars are well established. Food and other offerings are made to appease the spirits. One needs to avoid touching the displays because some of the Thais may feel offended.
Is your intention to integrate into local culture or to maintain your standing as an outsider?
The culture in the country is one that promotes a harmonious coexistence between people in the society. This is something that I intend to embrace. With my intention to visit and probably do business later, integrating into the culture will help in forming relationships essential for the success of my interactions and business. Therefore, I will learn some of the basic elements of the Central Thai language such as greetings. Consequently, I will also start by embracing the Thai cuisine to promote my integration into society.
Is the culture individualistic or collectivistic, and how does this reflect in society?
Thai culture is collectivistic. The country scores highly on elements of collectivism based on the Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, ( Tanaka & Kleiner, 2015) . The degree of interdependence that the society maintains is high. The people in Thailand have a close long-term commitment to the groups that they belong to ( Rowley & Lewis, 2018) . This may include a family, the extended family, or those which whom they have a relationship. Loyalty in Thailand is paramount is considered important than other societal rules and regulations. Thais are also not confrontational to preserve the in-group. Saying ‘yes’ in communication does not mean ‘yes’ and it may be used as a means to avoid hurting your feelings. Personal relationships are important when conducting business. With the time it takes to build the relationships, one needs to have patience.
Discussing business on the first occasions is not necessary for Thailand. I intend to apply this when it comes to organizing meetings in the country. The focus will be first to get to understand my clients or partners before we can discuss business ( Tanaka & Kleiner, 2015) . The family institution is considered important. I will uphold it give its value. I will also focus on being loyal to my clients and business partners as this helps in building relationships
How does the culture view time?
Thais respect or appreciate the time and hence it is important for one to observe time. One should arrive at meetings on time as Thais consider this a sign of respect for those that someone is meeting. However, although the Thais try to be on time, punctuality is considered a personal trait. Moreover, it takes time for Thais to form relationships with one another. When one has been invited to a Thai home, it is important to arrive close to the appointed time although being late for a few minutes is not considered an offense.
How does the culture value children and the elderly?
The family is usually considered as a foundation of most of the social life in the country. The concept of family in the country is considered wide and inclusive. There is a high level of respect given to the elderly especially one’s parents ( Rowley & Lewis, 2018) . The Thai society has many etiquettes as well as general interactions that revolve around the concept of deference to the elderly. The society is also based on a sense of duty and responsibility towards the elderly. All the members of the family are expected to abide by the teachings and advice that comes from the elderly.
Thai children are required to provide support and care to their parents in their old age. For instance, society tends to pass the family home down to the youngest daughter. She is expected to return home with her husband to care for the parents. Although some of these attitudes are changing as the country becomes open to people from other societies, the expectation is that the children must always uphold their duty and respect to the elderly. As the family is the most important institution, it is expected that all the parents will take care of their children.
What techniques should you use to communicate effectively?
Traditionally, Thais usually greet one another with the wai, which is considered as a sign of respect and reverence. To communicate effectively, it is important for one to use wai when first interacting with Thais. Thais also make use of hand gestures to enhance speech. However, it is important that the actions be considered calm and not aggressive. As pointed out, Thais are not confrontational. The gentle nature of Thais means that they are likely to be offended by any aggressiveness from an individual. The face is considered important to Thais, which means that one should not do anything that affects one’s face. If one needs to say something important, it must be in private. Thais are also indirect communicators who do not say anything that might hurt someone. Instead, one may use some vague comments to change the topic instead of saying something that may hurt someone. In regards to personal space, Thais usually maintain a distance when they are speaking to strangers. The distance is considered much less when one is speaking to close friends. Although one may maintain eye contact during conversations, it is also considered important for one to bow their head during some interactions with individuals who are considered in positions of power. Communication needs to be polite and show respect as seniority is taken seriously.
Local Business Practice
The first meetings are aimed at building rapport with each other, which means that important decisions are only made in subsequent meetings. In regards to business cards, Thais put much importance on business cards. They argue that the cards are the face of a person and a representation of their status. The cards are given during the first meeting, and it is important for one to receive them with the right hand because it is associated with respect. Whereas one side should be in English, one should try to translate the same to Thai on the other page.
Business attire is important in the country because it increases the chances of one being taken seriously. Men are supposed to have long trousers while women have skirts that cover their knees and a blouse ( Rowley & Lewis, 2018) . Smart casual is acceptable for some business entertaining events. One should wear shoes that are easy to slip when visiting offices and places where the removal of shoes is required.
Although gifts are not required, they are accepted during meetings. Gifts should be received with the right hand followed by a wai gesture. However, Thais do not open gifts in front of the person who gave it. One may give something simple from his or her home country. One should also avoid direct communications when in a meeting. Subsequently, one should take time before giving a response to avoid looking as if one is too hasty to answer. Hierarchy is respected in Thailand because the citizens value business formality. One should always use protocol when addressing others especially when one is a junior staff. Most of the decisions in business are directed to the manager.
References
Rowley, C., & Lewis, M. (2018). Greater China: Political economy, inward investment, and business culture . Routledge.
Tanaka, A., & Kleiner, B. (2015). Cross-Cultural Business Etiquette. Culture & Religion Review Journal , 2015 (1).
