Awareness of cultural missteps could save your business deal--a lack of cultural awareness can also ensure that you not only look a fool, but fail to seal the deal. You’ve been on an all night flight to Russia to close an important business deal, and the first thing your host does is offer you a shot of vodka. Even though your stomach turns at the thought of an alcoholic liquid breakfast, you accept. Did you choose wisely?Everyone’s had moments where they put their foot in their mouth, but, if they’re lucky, a business deal didn’t hinge on it.In our current global market deals are struck with partners in other countries every day—and sometimes an awareness of potential cultural issues can help you get to the point where you sign on the dotted line. However, a lack of cultural awareness can also ensure that you not only look a fool, but fail to seal the deal.Below is a list of six common faux pas that you shouldn’t make when in Russia as submitted by international business people. Don’t turn down a glass of vodka when it’s offered by your host. Don’t perceive traditional Russian hospitality as an attempt to bribe you. Don’t shout at people—it’s a sign of weakness. Don’t interpret lack of smiles in general crowd as an unwelcoming attitude. (In fact, a smile in Russia is much more personal, says Alexander Nepomniachtchi, director of Luxoft Delivery Organization, and you will see a lot of smiles when you get closer to people.) Take your shoes off when entering someone’s home. Don’t put your feet up on the table in front of someone. (Isn’t that a major gaffe in any country?)Obviously, this isn’t an exhaustive list. Tell us about the cultural mistake you made—or observed—in the comments section below. Don’t you wish someone had shared their experiences with you before you became the laughingstock of the water cooler brigade? Related content BrandPost Stay in Control of Your Data with a Secure and Compliant Sovereign Cloud By Stan Kwong Mar 23, 2023 6 mins Cloud Security Cloud Computing News Accenture to lay off 19,000 to cut costs amid economic uncertainty Technology services giant Accenture will continue to hire but meanwhile is cutting staff to streamline operations in the face of economic headwinds. By Anirban Ghoshal Mar 23, 2023 2 mins IT Consulting Services Technology Industry BrandPost Advice from procurement: How to evaluate and propose new IT investments By clearly defining needs and requirements, evaluating TCO, and performing risk assessments, procurement and IT teams can work together to help their business leaders make more informed decisions for an improved bottom line. By Bo Bradshaw, Edgio Procurement Director Mar 23, 2023 5 mins SaaS BrandPost Why AI is key to hiring and retaining developers Data shows that the opportunity to build AI-powered apps figures very prominently in where developers decide to work. By Bryan Kirschner, Vice President, Strategy at DataStax Mar 23, 2023 4 mins Artificial Intelligence IT Leadership Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe