Question

let's say that you have an American business person trying to establish a business relationship with a Taiwanese business person. The American (you) keep making eye contact, and the Taiwanese keeps avoiding it. Could this dynamic affect the establishment of a business relationship, presuming that neither are savvy enough to recognize the cultural difference? What would they each be thinking about the other?

Answer 1

In building up a business, cultural differences and many other things play an essential role. In establishing a good business relationship, some things matter like here, the eye contact was there but no admiration to it. Maybe eye contact in their culture is something natural, whereas in America it must be taken care of. Culture difference may increase the difficulty in making up a healthy business relationship. But if both the parties start understanding and accepting the culture of each other as its always a two-way thing. Recognition of cultural should be there, and equal respect and value should be given to every lifestyle.

In this case, they must be thinking about each other that they are egoistic and have attitude problems. There exist many misunderstanding, but it may get clear by the time.