Nearly 40 years ago Earth Day started as a grassroots movement with the hippies. Now, four decades later, it has blossomed into a global cause. With issues such as global warming and renewable energy ever more present in our daily lives, Earth Day is an important moment to reflect on how we can help protect our unique planet.

We hope you will join us in making a commitment to a responsible lifestyle. Little things like recycling and moderate water consumption go a long way. Avoiding unnecessary trips in your car, installing energy efficient appliances in your home, and using solar and wind power not only save you money, they also put less of a strain on the environment.

Today, April 22nd, join billions of people in making a commitment to keeping our home beautiful and liveable.

Also, in a reception with Queen Elizabeth II, First Lady Michelle Obama briefly put her hand on the Queen’s back, which is a big no-no according to standard protocol. One never touches the Queen of England — as tradition holds it, she’s the protector of the faith, as holy as the Pope himself. This incident echoed former Australian Prime minister John Howard, who put his arm around the Queen to direct her through a crowd. Needless to say, the British tabloid press was loving it all.

The most infamous blunderer in terms of cultural awareness is former US president Bush, whose gaffes could probably fill an encyclopaedia. Among them are winking at Queen Elizabeth II, giving Angela Merkel a backrub, and talking with his mouthful at 2006’s G8 Summit.

Take the kiss incident above, and move that scenario to India. Back in 2007, Richard Gere embraced and kissed Indian actress Shilpa Shetty on the cheek several times at an AIDS awareness rally. In a country where displays of public affection are taboo, kissing in public pretty much tops the list of offensive behaviour. People burned effigies of Gere, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. While our actions might not fall under as much scrutiny as Gere’s, not knowing what kinds of public affection are acceptable in another culture might deeply offend a potential new business partner.

Anyone conducting business in today’s globalised economy should pay heed to the lessons offered above. What happens under on the world stage of international politics, also happens every day in the business world.

Probably the most common setting for meetings between globetrotting business people is the dining table. Did you know that pointing and waving chopsticks is considered rude in most Asian countries? In many Middle Eastern countries it is important to eat using the right hand, as the left hand is considered unclean.

Another important point to remember is that countries have different degrees of personal space. Americans are known to be very informal, while on the other end of the spectrum you find the French, who sometimes find the Americans’ straight forward behaviour to be overly-friendly, and rude. In this area, like all the others, it is probably best to ere on the side of caution.

Cross-cultural awareness is also a key factor when it comes to retaining an effective workforce. According to a recent survey about Cross-Cultural Development Conversations, over 90% of 45 surveyed companies said they expect the cultural diversity in their organisations to increase within the next 3-5 years – ‘with nearly 50% expecting “a significant increase”’.

Take the example of giving employee feedback in China. According to Career Innovations – the organisation that conducted the survey — what is perceived as positive and effective feedback in the United States is inappropriate to Chinese employees. That is because in the US feedback tends to be given on an individual level, in a more direct way – whereas Chinese employees are accustomed to receive feedback as a group. Companies had noticed employees leaving for no apparent reason until they were able to bridge this communication gap.

As much familiarisation as possible with your business partner’s country is imperative for effective inter-business communication and employee retention.

If there is a lesson to be learned, it is this: if you don’t know the etiquette of your business associate’s country, there is no harm in asking. Also, try to find out as much as possible about their country beforehand. Effective communication is not just about language. Being culturally aware can be just the advantage you need in today’s competitive global economy.

But first, a word to the wise about professional social networking. It is in many respects like real-life networking, and that personal touch will always make you stand out. You don’t just go up to someone at a cocktail party and hand them a business card, hoping they’ll call you back. Chances are if you did that your business card would end up in the rubbish bin or as the paper for a makeshift grocery list. When you make your introductions to potential new business contacts, it always helps to let them know how you know them, and why joining networks would be mutually beneficial to both of you. Take the time to find out about the people you’re connecting with and find out what you have in common (sometimes it’s as simple as reading their profile and resume).

There are many social networking sites for professionals. Here are a few:

LinkedIn. This is a fantastic resource for professionals. This career networking community allows you to post your resume on your profile. Other users, potential employers, employees, consultants and business partners — they’re all here. In a time when people change jobs frequently it’s is also a good way to keep in touch.

Xing. Their by-line says it all: Global networking for professionals. According to their statistics over 7 million people worldwide in 16 different languages are using their site. They aim to make networking and contact management simple and effective.

Naymz. They believe that ‘A good professional reputation is the key to effectively networking with other professionals’. This is a professional networking platform that aims to simplify the process of discovering new connections and business opportunities.

Spoke. This is a business networking site that connects to over 2.3 million businesses and 40 million people. You can connect with anyone on the network, regardless if they are a member of Spoke. Like the other sites, Spoke allows you to customise and promote your online portfolio.

Facebook. You may be surprised to see this on here, but Facebook is no longer just for college kids and friends to post their hilarious drunken party pics. Because of its popularity and far-reaching internet presence, Facebook can be seen as a hybrid of professional, social and personal networking. That is why it’s so important, for the business-minded people out there, to always project a professional image. Join groups comprised of professionals in your fields of interest, be careful with the comments people leave on your wall, and definitely don’t post candid pics of you doing a spontaneous striptease at last weekend’s house party (unless, of course, you’re a professional stripper).

Also, be mindful that social networking can be very time consuming. If you want a good return on your investment, be selective. Only join groups that are important to you, and that you know can further your professional career. Be careful about the updates you choose to receive, as receiving too many can eventually fill up your inbox and waste your time. Also keep in mind that even though Facebook can be used for professional social networking, other sites like LinkedIn and Xing are specifically created for professionals. Spend your time on social networks that you know attract like-minded professionals.

20 years ago in a pizza restaurant in downtown London, a waitress served me a cold pizza.

With my best English, I asked her (intending to have the pizza warmed-up):

Could you please eat it?

She was stunned … especially since she didn’t realize that for me HEAT and EAT had the same pronunciation!

She ignored me of course and rather ashamed and disappointed I finished my cold pizza.

Hopefully this will inspire you to send your own story in. Remember, the best story will receive a 6-month subscription to The English Works Club – and the contest ends May 31st, so hurry up!