Brazilians get close to each other while speaking Portuguese to one another. A pat on the back is normal during conversation. Brazilians are said to be theatrical and over emotional.
Brazilians use the thumbs up sign to show their means of approval. However the ok sign is very offensive to Brazilians. Eye contact is important because it shows your interest in what they are speaking about. Brazilians prefer face-to-face meetings to written communication because it allows them to know the person they are doing business. The individual they deal with is more important than the company. It is considered acceptable to interrupt someone who is speaking. French is the original language of France. Interruptions often occur while emotions run high. First names are only used by family and close friends. The French have and animated and theatrical style. A handshake is a common form of greeting. Only friends can greet each other with kiss on the cheek. Mutual trust and respect is required to get things done.
Trust is earned through proper behavior. The French are very direct because they are not afraid of asking questions. English, Mandarin, Malay, and Tamil are the national languages of Singapore. Pausing before answering to a question indicates that they have given the question appropriate thought and they response carefully. They tend to be subtle, indirect and implicit in their communications. Singaporeans rely on facial expression, tone of voice and posture to tell them what someone feels. They hint at a point rather than making a direct statement. Silence is an important of Singaporean communication. Once your company is part of the group, you will be accepted and expected to obey the unwritten rules of the group. Trust will build if your organization is in it for the long-term and is not looking only for short- term gains. Rank is respected. The eldest person in the group is always at the top. These barriers can be overcome by practicing patience and working to increase knowledge and understanding of these different cultures. In other words people must have the ability to see the other person's own behaviors and reactions. Learn what language is spoken and use a translator if need. Find out how they greet each other so one is prepared for their first encounter.