Minding Manners International

𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒓𝒆 𝑨𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝑪𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒔: 𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑨𝒓𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒔 𝑪𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝑫𝒊𝒑𝒍𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒄𝒚

“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” — William Shakespeare

Few art forms reveal the soul of a society as vividly as theatre. Across cultures, it reflects identity, communicates values, and creates space for shared understanding.

From classical Greek drama to the stylised traditions of East Asia, and from communal storytelling in Africa to contemporary stages worldwide, theatre continues to shape how societies express themselves—and how they are understood.

On 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐲, we recognise the performing arts not only as cultural expression, but as a subtle and powerful form of cultural diplomacy—where presence, symbolism, and narrative connect societies beyond words.

Nowruz: A Quiet Reflection on Unity, Renewal and Shared Humanity

“Human beings are members of a whole, in creation of one essence and soul. If one member is afflicted with pain, other members uneasy will remain.” - Saadi Shirazi

These words express a powerful idea that humanity is interconnected. For this reason, the verse by the Persian poet Saadi is displayed at the entrance of the United Nations in New York as a symbol of global unity and shared responsibility.

The message also reflects the spirit of Nowruz, which celebrates renewal, harmony and the bonds that connect people and communities.

Each spring, more than 300 million people around the world welcome Nowruz, the Persian New Year. The celebration begins at the spring equinox, when day and night meet in almost perfect balance, symbolising renewal and the beginning of a new cycle of life.

Across regions of Central Asia, the Middle East, and the Caucasus, families prepare for the new year through traditions that have been passed down for more than 3,000 years.

To everyone celebrating, Nowruz Mobarak.

Something special is happening right now…Lunar New Year, Ramadan and Lent converge within the same seasonal window.

Across continents, millions will adjust their daily rhythms — not because markets demand it, but because meaning does.

For global leaders, this is not symbolic.
It is instructive.

Business flows through people.
And people move through cultural cycles.

What does cultural attunement look like in your leadership context?

World Hijab Day invites engagement with the hijab through knowledge and history. Often perceived only as an item of clothing, the hijab is more accurately a concept shaped by language, ethics, faith, and social tradition. Let’s take time to explore its origins so that together, we can build informed dialogues and respectful global understanding.
 
For more detailed insights, subscribe to our Newsletter on LinkedIn and discover more about the hijab’s relation with:
 
🪻Linguistic origins
🪻Privacy and modesty
🪻Veiling and historic class distinctions
🪻Modesty across cultures and faiths

Established in 2013, promotes awareness, dialogue, and voluntary participation. It also highlights that the hijab is not a single garment or style. Around the world, practices vary according to climate, culture, and personal expression, reflecting cultural diversity.
 
As contemporary Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan observes:
“The question of the hijab cannot be reduced to fabric. It must be understood within a broader reflection on modesty, intention, and ethical behaviour.”

While the World Economic Forum is often characterised by its “spirit of dialogue” and the relaxed Davos Man aesthetic, its effectiveness rests on a foundation of rigorous, largely invisible choreography. As we observe Davos 2026, it serves as a powerful case study in strategic spontaneity, carefully engineered to enable seemingly informal breakthroughs.

✅ Designed Seating
While sessions at the World Economic Forum appear open, seating at the Congress Centre and private off-the-record dinners is precisely curated to shape interaction.

✅ Badge Equality
Davos enforces visible credentials and uniform security procedures for all participants, regardless of rank. This is a deliberate protocol choice designed to remove visible hierarchy and encourage direct exchange.

✅ Sensory Diplomacy
Davos uses cultural and sensory programming to influence emotional tone before substantive negotiations begin. This year’s Forum opened not with a keynote address, but with a concert featuring Jon Batiste and AI-generated visuals.

✅ Heavily Scheduled “Casual” Bilaterals
National pavilions and institutional houses function as high-efficiency diplomatic hubs, hosting tightly sequenced bilateral meetings.

Davos works because it is choreographed. Informality is not the absence of structure. It is the result of exceptional preparation, disciplined protocol, and intentional event design. By mastering the Forum’s invisible rules, from seating arrangements and badge hierarchy to the timing of the late-evening informal meetings, leaders transform a snowy Alpine village into a global engine of progress.

A personal note from Tamiko - One of my favourite weekend pleasures in the UK is to visit National Trust stately homes. This weekend was a treat beyond measure at Polesden Lacey. The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was in full effect. Chaos and whimsy might come to mind before etiquette does; however, this topsy-turvy gathering has some unexpected lessons in manners and social interactions we can keep in mind as we approach our New Year’s Eve gatherings. Let’s explore what we can learn from this peculiar tea party!

☕️Embrace Inclusivity
At the Mad Hatter’s tea party, everyone is welcome—or at least, everyone who stumbles upon it! This serves as a reminder to be inclusive and welcoming in our own social gatherings.

☕️Celebrate Curiosity
Alice’s curiosity leads her to the tea party, and although the Hatter and his friends may be a bit eccentric, they engage with Alice’s questions, showing her a willingness to value a different perspective.

☕️Mind the Time
Time is a central theme during the Mad Hatter’s tea party, where it’s always 6 o’clock. While their concept of time is unconventional, it reminds us to be considerate of others’ schedules and punctuality, showing respect for the time people choose to spend with us.

☕️Adaptability is Key
The Mad Hatter and his guests frequently change seats. In real life, being adaptable in social situations demonstrates grace and poise.

☕️Find Joy in the Unexpected
Though the tea party is disorganised, it’s filled with laughter and surprises. What a lovely reminder to find joy in unexpected moments and approach social interactions with a light heart and humour.

☕️Respect Personal Space
Even in their eccentricity, the characters at the tea party respect Alice’s personal space, highlighting the importance of being aware of and respecting personal boundaries in social settings.

The next time you find yourself at a gathering, channel a little bit of Wonderland magic with these etiquette tips.

Concluding two weeks of back-to-back etiquette trainings, we are delighted to 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆 our newest network members who completed 𝒄𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑺𝒐𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑬𝒕𝒊𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆 & 𝑺𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒊𝒓 𝑽𝒊𝒗𝒓𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒉 𝑬𝒕𝒊𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆 & 𝑳𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑.

From four years old to 104, it is never too early, or too late, to share the vital skills that enhance confidence, grace and leadership.

Congratulations to Amanda, Ayşegül, Julia and Vivian plus our extraordinary The Finsihing Touch delegates. Spending time with you was a wonderful way to conclude 2025!

Best wishes from Tamiko, Christine, Magda, Sue, Alice and all the Team.









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