Be aware of how you point in your face-to-face demos – you may not realize what you are communicating!
On a Mediterranean island, I was watching a tour group listening to their guide pointing to a map of an ancient megalithic complex, when I noticed the group laughing and smirking as their guide identified features on the map.
What was going on?
I realized the guide was pointing using their middle finger, and the tour group was from North America. From the group’s perspective, their guide was “flipping them off!”
In many cultures, the logical finger for pointing is the middle finger, since it is the longest.
In other cultures, the index finger (aka forefinger) is preferred.
And in other cultures, pointing directly at someone with a finger is rude!
Solution?
Use the Two-Finger approach: This is the clearest method of pointing with the least risk of offending people!
Note that many airline flight attendants use the Two-Finger method during their safety briefings for the same reasons.
Get the point?
No comments:
Post a Comment