Hey, I'm currently collecting info on the communication styles and non-verbal behaviours (gestures and all) of Australian business people Was wondering if you can maybe help provide me with some info? I would like to know stuffs like what you should and should not do when dealing with Australian business people in general and the kind of gestures and non-verbal communication they often use.
S-Kay - Interesting question. I think Allan Pease books on Body Language might be of help there. Not sure if he wrote one concerning business though. If you through his name into a search engine for his books, I am sure it might help. He is sort of the Australian Body Language guru.
Shaking hands with them when arriving or leaving the meeting is probably obvious. The same as not sticking your fingers up at them (is that rude in Malaysia too?) Avoid overly familiar body contact (like, don't hug them unless your like 'really good friends' or something).
Keep eye contact, smile, just generally be friendly.
Don't touch/rub your nose a lot (means you're lying), don't fiddle with your ears (means you don't like what you're hearing). Some business men like to watch the eyes, it's a good indication of when someone is lying. (You can read about that in most Body Language books).
Sorry I can't be of more help - but you know what they say, if you don't know something, at least know where you can get the information - and Allan Pease's books area good place to start for Aussie Body Language of any nature.
S-Kay - p.s. If you need to contact me (I might regret pasting this up here), my e-mail addy is:
cyber_bear AT bigpond.com
Cheers. (I hope you can work that out - and I hope SPAMMER BOTS can't!) 
cyber bear??????? cyber bear??????
Thanks alot! I doubt the spammers are that smart =) I'll look up on the author!
Beerbabe - Yeah. I've had that e-mail address since before 'cybering' came to mean 'cyber sex' and before 'bear' became popular as a 'hairy gay male' (though it wa being used that way ... I just hadn't heard of it tenyearsa go) ... though my friends like to mention it a lot.
That's what happens when you join the internet when it is still very new, and the language evolves around it.
I chose that as my log in as my nickname was 'bear' or 'little bear' since I was twelve and I wass a bear in cyber space.
Now, some people ask if I am some hairy hulking gay male who runs around cybering other gay males! Grrrrr! Stupid language.
I guess it's a kin to people with surnames which once were popular and now mean somethig completely different (like the surnames 'Gaylord' or 'Bagshave' or 'longbottom' etc etc)
S-Kay - No worries matey.
Commenting by HaloScan
