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December 2008 Issue #2 Christmas... Email us: |
Welcome to TURNING POINT. For this issue, we have selected a cultural theme – CHRISTMAS. The weather is changing, the shops have been redecorated, the children are getting excited and you may be planning holidays. It is a unique season, with many traditions attached to it; key ones being to enjoy each other's company and to send cards to each other. Mannhart Consultants and Skillbiz have turned their attention to the inclusiveness of Christmas and other celebrations during the festive season – how you can fit yourself into the celebrations and communicate meaningfully about the values that they represent – and do so in a way that draws people in. We would like to help you live a life based on positive values, using behaviours that include others. In this way, such things can become ‘turning points’ towards success. 时来运转 – shí laí yùn zhŭan - Good fortune is coming at the turning point. Wishing you a happy festive season! Tony, Reto and Joanna
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Mistletoe, together with rosemary, boxwood bush, Christmas holly, and the prominent Christmas tree, is displayed throughout the Christmas period and is probably (and ironically) the world's most famous parasitic plant. The tradition is based around the ancient Celtic and Scandinavian rituals of a "kiss under the mistletoe". This ritual allowed young men the privilege of kissing girls under the mistletoe, each time pulling out a berry from the bush after the kiss; the privilege ceased when all the berries had been plucked. "Good idea, ancient Celtics!" our male readers may well be thinking. However, let us explore the habits, rules, and accepted behaviors that have changed over time, particularly with regard to the mistletoe kiss. As most have witnessed, in different cultures, the traditional festive season (incorporating Thanksgiving, Christmas, Western New Year, and Chinese New Year) tends to loosen-up otherwise perfectly behaved, well-respected members of almost any society. Read on, about these quaintly primitive cultural festivals, about what is commonly accepted behavior, and what is not in so-called modern times…  |
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3 great words - how much fun they are! Let’s play with the punctuation… “Christmas hampers!* Happiness!” Sensational! We love gifts of food and wine. What if we take all the punctuation away? Christmas hampers happiness. Now I’m being a real killjoy. The Psychology of Happiness has a lot to do with Christmas. Read on…
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Nowadays, there are many "e-ways" to say thank you, wish someone good luck for the coming year, or maintain a relationship by showing business partners and friends your respect and appreciation. Sending cards during the festive season is certainly a matter of personal preference and style, and is dependent upon one's cultural background. Good etiquette practices do say though, that by giving thought to the selection of a nice card, writing it with your own hand, and sending it by post mail, you can make a clear statement of tribute that will be recognized by your grateful recipient. To find out more about proper card communication during special festive occasions such as Christmas or Chinese New Year, read on…
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I find Christmas confusing… it’s a religious celebration, a holiday from work, a reason to have a party, a shopping frenzy, an exchange of gifts and greetings, a long-standing cultural tradition, and it is also ignored by many people. And it comes around so quickly every year, seemingly catching us unprepared each time. What do you value about Christmas? And more broadly, what are values anyway? |
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SkillBiz was established in Sydney in 2000, as a learning consultancy that has grown throughout Asia Pacific and across several industries. The cornerstone of the business is influence – whether learners are leaders, negotiators, teams or executives. The content is leading edge, but the methods to engage participants are our competitive advantage. |
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Mannhart Consultants was established in Shanghai in 2003 as a Swiss business consultancy offering international etiquette training. Besides being the number one etiquette training and consulting company in Shanghai, Mannhart Consultants also provides cross-cultural training modules, communication skills, and language services. |
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