Presented for the International Nanny Association in Chicago May 2017, this training is intended for people who work for people of various cultural backgrounds.

1. CULTURAL DIFFERENCES &
SENSITIVITY
Susan Labadi
President
Genius School, Inc.

2. LET’S GET
ACQUAINTED!

3. MAGGIE
&
JIM
Flickr: Jeansman Lee

4. CULTURAL DIFFERENCES &
SENSITIVITY
• Develop a patient and flexible mindset
• Do your homework and learn!
• Work through the challenges with
communication
• Persist and realize what makes sense

5. Food

6. FOOD QUIZ TIME!
Vegan
Cream of Broccoli
Stir-fry Shrimp
Buttered Parsnips

7. FOOD QUIZ TIME!
Kosher
Scallops
Eel
Goat

8. FOOD QUIZ TIME!
Halal Kosher Gelatin
Pepperoni
Lobster

9. FOOD QUIZ TIME!
Gluten
Free Soy Sauce
Buckwheat
Quinoa

10. EVALUATE YOUR OWN DISPOSITION
AND LEVEL OF PATIENCE
Flickr: Avenue G

12. DEVELOP
YOUR
TOOLKIT OF
SOLUTIONS
Flickr: Joachim Schlosser

13. YOU MAY HAVE TO ADJUST YOUR…
Flickr: Sean MacEntee
Late or Early ~ Fast or Slow

15. CULTURE IS INVISIBLE

19. WWW.GEERT-
HOFSTEDE.CO
M
Culture Social Scientist

20. GEERT HOFSTEDE DIMENSIONS
Power
Distance
• Close and Egalitarian
• Far and Hierarchal
Uncertainty
Avoidance
• Strong, Rigid and Intolerant
• Weak and Open to Novelty
Masculinity-
Femininity
Individualism-
Collectivism

21. GEERT HOFSTEDE - TOOLS

23. PROXIMITY
Countries
Close Mid-East, North Africa, Latin America
Middle U.S., U.K. Australia, Canada
Further China & Japan
• U.S.-1 foot and more distant
• Brazil-touchy and close
Flickr: Jake Guild

24. TOUCH
Countries
More Mediterranean, Latin America, Brazil
Less U.S., U.K., Japan, Sweden, Germany
Flickr: Rick Scavetta

25. BE AWARE OF EYE CONTACT
Flickr: Garry Knight Flickr: Dar’ya Sip

26. BE OPEN TO
POSSIBILITIES
Practice Good Will and Positivity
Flickr: Matthias Mueller

27. LEARN WHY
PEOPLE DO
WHAT THEY
DO
Take Time
to Observe
Ask a
friend
Write a
note
Ask your
employer
Research
With analysis, most things make
sense

28. BE A STUDENT
OF THE
WORLD
Ease in
Gently
Do NOT
Push
Your
Way
Talk
Things
Through
When you
begin…

29. FIND AN ALLY
WITHIN THE
FAMILY WHOM
YOU CAN
TRUST
Expect that you will
make mistakes.
That is okay.
Flickr: LWYang

30. BUILD A
RELATIONSHIP
Give yourself time to
pave good will and the
chance to learn

31. UNDERSTAND “YES” AND “NO”
• In the U.S. we are very direct; but in some places, you do not say
“No.”
• Note the tone or realize that even if they say “Yes,” they are not
really meaning that!
Middle East
Asia
Africa
South America

32. YOU MAY
WANT TO HIDE
AFTER
MAKING
MISTAKES
But you must persist!
You’ll succeed if you keep
trying.

33. TAKE TIME TO
JOURNAL,
REVIEW &
REFLECT
New accents, new food, new time
schedules, new music, new
languages…forgive yourself!

34. TAKE TIME
FOR SELF
CARE
And take time to
realize what makes
sense.

35. YOU JUST
HAVE TO FIND
THE KEYS TO
WHY THINGS
HAPPEN
…to understand the
universe!
Flickr: Schizoform

36. THANK YOU!
SusanLabadi.com