Communication Matters
IMPROVING INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATION
‘Be clear about your goal but be flexible about the process of achieving it’
To succeed in international business we need to be flexible and open-minded. Our way of doing things is not the only way.
Scheduling
For anyone working or traveling abroad, it’s clear that different cultures treat time differently. On one extreme we have the exceedingly precise Germans and Swiss; Americans fall relatively close to this end of the spectrum; Western Europeans and Latin Americans tend to be more flexible; Africa, the Middle East, and India are extremely flexible.
Meetings in Saudi Arabia, for example, are typically cordial but not very structured. It is not uncommon for the Saudi host to hold several meetings simultaneously. Appointments often start late, and prayer times dictate schedules.
Saudis often view things as being willed by God. This is reflected in the common saying “Inshallah” (If God wills it). Therefore, a deal’s success or failure is thought to be somewhat attributed to God’s plan. This may in part account for a perceived lack of urgency.
INTERNATIONAL
TRAVEL TIP
Refusing food: in the US, when you visit someone’s home, it isn’t unusual to refuse food. Usually, we do it to make it easier on the host. Guests in most Arab countries don’t do the same thing. Refusing food offered to you is incredibly rude!
By: Mayflower