Reading this gave me an idea. I should come up with my own rules to doing international business. I have been around the world and some of my best friends are from different countries. I know as much as the next guy.
My rules to International Business
1. Be Open – You are dealing with different cultures. It is could to always keep a open mind about what ever is going on. If you look at it from the other person’s point of view, you might get a understanding for what he wants or how he feels.
2. Go with the flow – Try following the other persons lead. If they want chit chat with you, then shot the breeze. If they want to talk all business then you need to do that.
3. Know the Topic – You must know the topic that you are meeting over. Even if you have the personally of a rock, if you know the topic they have no reason to complain.
4. Show Respect – I am not saying you have to bow to your knees to every person. You should at the very least attempt to show the respect expected in that culture.
This is a good set of rules. It's cool how knowing people from other places and visiting different countries has helped you develop the rules. I think the most important are 1-Be Open and 4-Show Respect. They pretty much derive from each other. Like, being open is showing respect.
ReplyDeleteI think that your set of rules is a good simple model to follow. Being open with the other culture is probably the most important factor on your list because being open allows business partners to easily communicate and understand each other’s differences. It allows them to become more comfortable with each other and possibly get to know each other outside of work and on a “friendlier” level. Going with the flow is also important in that it allows people to appreciate another person’s ways of problem solving. Knowing the topic and doing research on the other cultures practices is important so that nobody is surprised or in a really uncomfortable situation when a new method of solving is introduced to them. (ENGR 103)
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