What do peaches and coconuts have to do with global mobility?

In her article, "Peach vs. Coconut: Cross-Cultural Communication is Difficult!" Tracy Stuart Kautzmann from the Impact Group explains that "Peaches" and "Coconuts" are terms used to describe two types of country cultures. The terms were originally coined in 1997 by Fons Trompenaars and Charles Hampden-Turner when they published their model for thinking about cultures in their book, "Riding the Waves of Culture." Many cultural training programs tap into the concepts from this model when helping to prepare expatriates (and their families) before heading off on an international assignment. Cultural training is known to help elevate assignment success and increase the ROI of global assignments, while helping the expatriate to have a better assignment experience.

The model supports an expat's understanding of people from different cultural backgrounds so that they can prevent misunderstandings and enjoy a better working relationship with them. This information is also useful if you do business with people from around the world, or if you manage a diverse group of people.

OK already...what about the "peach" and "coconut?"

Each culture has a different communication method and, to facilitate understanding, the metaphor of peaches and coconuts is popular. Let's consider the peach culture first. Why a peach? As Tracy Stuart Kautzmann explains:

"People from Peach cultures are said to be “soft” on the outside: Friendly to people they have just met, frequently smile at strangers, chat, share information (not necessarily deep conversation), and even share pictures. They are very nice and helpful to strangers.

However, when you get past the initial friendliness, you see a very private self that they protect for a select few. That is the hard pit in the middle of the peach.

The complaint you often hear is that they are friendly when you first get to know them, but it is difficult to become real friends. In addition, this may lead people to assume individuals from a Peach culture are superficial, hypocritical, and fake."

Examples of peach cultures are: Canada, the United States, Brazil and Japan

OK, so what about coconut cultures? Why a coconut?  Again, per Tracy:

"People from Coconut cultures are described as “hard” on the outside: Rarely smile at a stranger, do not engage in conversations easily, do not talk about personal information with strangers, and mostly keep to themselves or stay with their close friends and family.

These people may be neutral towards you for a long time. However, if you manage to break through their outer shell, they tend to become loyal friends who will accept you as family. Words associated to people from a Coconut culture may include standoffish, hostile, and unfriendly."

Examples of Coconut cultures are: Germany, Switzerland, France, Russia, Vietnam, China and Indonesia.

If you are an expat from Germany going to Brazil, then you are a "coconut" living in a "peach" world. If you are a Canadian expat on a two-year assignment in China, then you are a "peach" living in a "coconut" world. While the metaphor is an oversimplification, you can use this as a general guide. But remember to treat people as individuals and to avoid stereotyping. Everything is relative. For example, the British are “coconuts” in California but “peaches” in Paris. Training CQ shares that there are also subtle gradations, as caricatured in the old joke about the Swede and the Finn who meet for drinks, spending hours drinking beer in silence. Eventually, raising his glass, the Swede says, “Skol!” The Finn is appalled: “Did we come here to talk, or to drink?” 

Ultimately, cultural differences are no joke!  So what are you...a peach or a coconut?