The Standing Gesture That Quietly Offends From Tokyo To Paris Without You Ever Saying A Word

Body language plays a crucial role in social interactions, but there are certain gestures that don't necessarily have the same meaning across different cultures. Every community has its unique traditions and codes. For example, what you may consider to be a relaxed and friendly stance, such as standing with your hands in your pockets, can come across as disrespectful in Japan.

Posture is an important non-verbal cue in Japanese culture and has been for centuries. Dr. Inazo Nitobe wrote in his 1899 book "Bushido" that "politeness should be the outward manifestation of a sympathetic regard for the feeling of others." Standing or talking to another person with your hands in your pockets is perceived as too casual, at best. A person may also come across as arrogant or dismissive of social norms. Even when your hosts are forgiving towards cultural differences, your body language could be distracting and the message you intended to convey could get lost in translation.

Such a casual stance is a common American conversation habit but is also considered very rude in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Although the same applies in France, especially among the older generations, even President Emmanuel Macron can forget sometimes. When he slipped his left hand in his pocket during the official photo call at the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, it made French headlines. So to avoid offending any locals or becoming the center of a media scandal, it's best to keep your hands out of your pockets when communicating with the people you meet on your travels.

In Thailand, where the head is the cleanest and most sacred part of the body, touching someone's head or passing something above someone seated is not good form. Reaching for your slice of pizza may break an unexpected dining etiquette rule in Norway, while a chin flick can mean something different in Italy than in France. There is no end to these subtle differences. The codes can also vary within the same country, such as in the way younger people may interact compared to older generations. 

Consider adopting this quiet but effective strategy in your foreign explorations: Research local customs ahead of your visit. And if you're already out exploring, you can develop cultural sensitivity by simply observing how the local community interacts with you and with each other. From there, you can very subtly match these local gestures and customs. Mirroring, or non-verbal matching, is an subconscious mechanism built deep into how we relate to each other. It helps us establish mutual connections no matter where we are in the world. 

In addition, don't be afraid to ask questions. More often than not, people will be more than happy to talk about their culture, and perhaps learn a little about yours in return. Adopting these small but meaningful adjustments in non-verbal cues will contribute to making your journey more enjoyable, and could lead to an easier connection with people you encounter along the way.