Same Gesture. Different Meaning.
When Gestures Tell Different Stories.
Before we speak, our body has already joined the conversation.
A thumbs up.
A handshake.
A wink.
Simple, everyday gestures. Yet none of them mean exactly the same thing everywhere.
The way we use gestures, body language and other nonverbal cues is shaped by culture. What feels friendly or respectful in one place may be interpreted very differently somewhere else.
In this session, we'll explore those differences through the stories and experiences we each bring.
Instead of talking about cultural differences from a distance, we'll experience them together.
Bring one gesture, facial expression, or nonverbal habit from your culture that someone from another part of the world might misunderstand.
Together, we'll exchange stories, compare perspectives, and discover how the same gesture can communicate respect, gratitude, confidence, awkwardness, or even offense depending on where in the world you are.
This session is for you if you're:
• An independent facilitator exploring how culture shapes the spaces you create
• An internal facilitator working with diverse teams and perspectives
• Someone who collaborates across cultures and wants to better understand the signals we send without words
Come ready to share, listen, and see familiar gestures through a different cultural lens.
Bring one gesture.
Let's discover how many stories it can tell.