Learn how cultural differences might be impacting your working relationships and gain the skills and knowledge to overcome these challenges.
By Sue Bryant
11th September 2019
Needing to do business with New Zealanders? For advice and guidance on making a good impression in New Zealand you need to check out our top 10 tips. …
By Sue Bryant
29th August 2019
Failure to understand the importance of ‘face’ can cause a permanent rift in a working relationship…
By Sue Bryant
17th July 2019
Chinese and American people will find they have more similarities than differences. People are motivated by the same things: comfort, money, providing for the family, job satisfaction and security. But each culture reaches these goals via different routes and on the surface, can sometimes seem poles apart. Understanding why people are driven to behave the way they do can go a long way to successful intercultural communication….
By Sue Bryant
9th July 2019
Since roughly half the population is made up of introverts, who tend to mull things over carefully before they open their mouths, most teams include at least one or two members who don’t say much. On diverse teams, when people come from cultures where offering ideas or opinions isn’t encouraged, the challenges are multiplied….
By Sue Bryant
28th June 2019
The world may be shrinking in terms of ease of communication but cultural differences are still highly prominent when it comes to sales techniques. How you navigate the challenges of a local market, understand the behavior of the consumer and interpret the buying psychology of your client will make the difference between success and failure. Here are 9 pointers for anybody who is new to selling across cultures….
By Terence Brake
14th June 2019
The single most important factor in making a good impression in China is to build relationships and cultivate them carefully, otherwise known as Guanxi. Building the friendship has to come before business is done; trust has to be in place before a deal can be made. Being smartly dressed, serious, punctual and deferential to elders will also win the respect of the Chinese. Furthermore, be careful in conversation not to make a Chinese person lose face by discussing topics such as Taiwan, Tibet, human rights issues or the growing capitalist culture in Chinese cities….
By Sue Bryant
2nd June 2019
English speakers are fortunate as their language is spoken in many parts of the world. But what happens when the tables are turned? What is the best way to make yourself understood?…
By Sue Bryant
11th May 2019
When working with different cultures, it is important to understand what drives people to make decisions. Is it profit? Time? Relationships? Not only this, but it’s essential to know who makes the decisions, and what role others play. In autocratic cultures like those of Latin America, France or the Arab world, decisions tend to come from the top, while in countries with flatter management styles, like the Netherlands, Australia or Israel, consensus is important. On the other hand, some of the most apparently egalitarian cultures can have a surprisingly top-down style when it comes to making a decision. In other situations, the corporate culture may override any local cultural traits. There will always be variations on cultural stereotypes, but here here are a few general examples of decision-making style around the world.
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By Sue Bryant
7th May 2019
Be sure to recognise the differences between Hong Kong Chinese and mainland Chinese and don’t make assumptions about somebody’s background and culture. Be prompt for appointments and calm and polite during meetings; overenthusiastic displays of emotion are frowned upon. Dress smartly and fashionably, taking into account the Chinese superstitions concerning blue and white, and any other colours or symbols which are regarded as inauspicious….
By Sue Bryant
7th May 2019
Take time to develop personal relationships and be guided by your counterpart as to when to move on to business. Expect to be asked personal questions, like ‘What religion are you?’ and answer politely. Ghanaians love to chat and put a person in context and this questioning helps them to achieve that.
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