I am currently in Bangkok 🇹🇭 with the Mikskaar team, exhibiting at a trade show Horti ASIA. Over the past few years, I have delved deeply into the differences between low and high-context cultures and have started to notice some distinctions.
Thailand 🇹🇭 is a high-context culture, but this doesn't mean that all Thai people adhere strictly to these cultural norms. The biggest challenge is to be creative in different situations while communicating.
For example, two years ago, I made a mistake by providing a lengthy explanation of how things should be done in the exhibition hall. Although the staff were Thai, in some situations, you need to be simple and clear. Typically, high-context cultures are not straightforward, but there are instances where simplicity and clarity are necessary.
Today, for instance, I ordered additional services from the NCC team. They have set up four categories to help exhibitors, each responsible for a different area: furniture, electrical equipment, and lighting, graphics, and so on. There was no point in explaining to the person in charge of electrical equipment that a print needed to be added. Initially, I did just that because I was used to dealing with one person and didn't immediately realize I was talking to the wrong person. Once directed to the right person, my problem was solved in one minute. I wasted three minutes explaining to the wrong person due to my mistake instead of going directly to the correct person (by the way, they had BIG signs on the desk, which I just didn’t read). They solved it in 30 seconds.
➡ This is just one example from today, but I counted around eight similar moments in one day.
💡 Takeaway: Be creative and read signs.
The fantastic team behind this trade show is very well organized, and communication has been clear and effective!
My special thank you Kamolchanok Nantaburom!
#highcontextculture #thaiculture #hortiasia #exhibitions #tradeshows
