Rooyesh-e- Ravanshenasi Journal(RRJ)

This study explores the overlap of two constructs—non-verbal communication (NVC) and modesty—in multicultural interactions. Twenty-four master’s students (16 men and 8 women) from an Iranian technical university participated in a qualitative study and reported their experiences of simultaneously managing non-verbal cues and ethical boundaries. Content analysis of their responses yielded ten core codes, and the frequency of each code was calculated. The findings showed that modesty is not an obstacle to expression; rather, it provides an interpretive framework that allows non-verbal signals to be read correctly. The code “cultural contextuality” appeared most frequently, underscoring the importance of tailoring eye contact, physical distance, and gestures to the interlocutor’s culture. In addition to the twelve social-emotional factors in the model of Kazemi-Tabar et al. (2022), three new dimensions—“professional attire,” “consistent modesty/boundary-setting,” and “adaptive behaviour”—were identified as decisive in shaping mutual perceptions. Drawing on the data and the literature, nine practical guidelines were distilled for balancing modesty and NVC, ranging from using neutral cues such as gentle smiles and head nods to maintaining stable touch policies and enhancing cultural intelligence. These recommendations can benefit multinational teams, negotiators, and designers of communication-skills training programmes. The study contributes methodologically by integrating qualitative frequency analysis with cross-cultural theory, and practically by offering an evidence-based checklist ready for managerial training modules.