Warning: A failed joke during a client presentation highlighted the growing need for cross-cultural communication training.

4 comments

4 Comments

Back in 2019 at a conference in Dubai, I attempted a joke about the dirham to lighten the mood. My delivery was so awkward it came across as mocking their economy. The client from Saudi Arabia actually thought I was criticizing regional policies, lol. I spent the next hour clarifying through a colleague who understood the nuance. That crash course in cultural sensitivity was more effective than any training module. Still cringe when I think about it, but hey, live and learn.

hall.paul2h ago

In 2019, Gulf economies were robust enough to withstand a dirham joke.

andrew_foster921h ago

But was it really that serious? lol

robinf411h ago

Wait, the client genuinely thought a botched currency joke was criticism of regional policies? That's an absolutely staggering misunderstanding. The mental gymnastics required to get from a fumbled punchline to assuming a commentary on economic governance is just wild. You must have felt the floor drop out from under you in that moment. What an excruciating, yet priceless, lesson in how words can warp across a cultural divide.