In-person meetings can also help teams avoid misunderstandings: As one of our friends who runs a virtual workplace puts it, with e-mail exchanges alone, everyone starts to get a bit paranoid.

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Operating in a country with a history of thousands of years -- and ways of doing business that go back as far -- it is valuable to develop insight into China's business culture and social etiquette to avoid misunderstandings that could scuttle deals and harm working relationships.

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Before I continue, and in order to avoid any misunderstandings, I want to emphasize that I am talking about Islam, not about Muslims.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Geert Wilders in Berlin

Planning in advance should help to avoid potentially catastrophic misunderstandings.

ECONOMIST: North Korea