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Cultural differences Posts
Obama-san gets it right. Keep bowing Barack
December 2nd, 2009
The news across the front of every newspaper in Asia screams the same headlines, and I have no doubt it’s the same in the US and Europe.
Did Obama bow too low during his recent visit to Japan, when he met Emperor Akihito and his wife? (Singapore Straights Times http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/World/World_20091122.html).
Certainly the Republican right have mocked Obama; no less than a rebuke from former vice-president Dick Cheney that ‘there is no need for an American president to bow to anyone’. Accusations that Obama was groveling to a foreign leader are widespread in the US, but what is all the fuss about?
As a regular traveler to Asia and other parts of the world, there are some simple rules to gain respect; adapt to the local culture.
Every nuance, every action is read one way or another;
• How do you present a business card in Asia?
• Would it be normal to give a bear hug in Russia?
• Is it standard practice to bring a gift in some parts of Asia?
• What does it mean when your male host holds your hand in the Middle East?
• Do you kiss cheeks 2 or 3 times in Belgium?
• Should you look your host straight in the eye when toasting vodka in Eastern Europe?
• What do you say when your host suggests you continue your meeting in the sauna?
Plus
• How low do you bow in Japan and what it the protocol?
Mastering the art of bowing is a must for all Japanese when they start working life, so it’s useful to know what the etiquette is:
• A 15-degree bow is appropriate when passing someone in the corridor
• A 30-degree bow is the most common and is used for welcoming a guest or entering or leaving a conference room.
• A 45-degree bow is for important clients, apologies or formal occasions such as weddings.
• The rare 90-degree bow is reserved for the very important such as the Emperor.
One Japanese blogger wrote ‘it’s good to see a modest Obama-san. With him I feel a sense of intimacy never felt before with other US presidents’.
The US has a lot of bridge-building to re-gain respect internationally. Obama was 100% right in what he did. It may seem odd in the US mid-west, but in Asia it has raised his profile considerably and shows he has humility as well as strong leadership skills.
He adapted to local culture.
Entschuldigen sie, bitte! Are you Taliban?
August 15th, 2009
For a moment I did a double take. Then I went through a number of reactions, one of which was to check it wasn’t April 1st.
It wasn’t, so I carried on reading the article in disbelief.
Whilst US and UK troops are being killed and wounded in Helmand Province in Afghanistan, there are also many other countries involved in resolving the conflict under the United Nations banner in different ways. Some are undertaking administrative tasks, others are involved in peacekeeping.
The German Bundeswehr, only recently allowed, under German law, to get involved in active combat for the first time since 1945, have circulated a manual to fellow troops on the ‘rules of exchange’ when encountering the Taliban.
It now seems that the Bundeswehr have let Taliban insurgents off the hook due to a ridiculously ‘PC’ policy being rigourously followed by the German army. It comes straight out Monty Python.
Apparently, German troops have to give trilingual warnings which must be shouted before they can squeeze their triggers.
The seven page guide to combat which all German troops have, prompt soldiers to say loudly in English
‘United Nations, stop or I will fire’….
This is followed by a version in Pashtun ‘Melgaero Mellatuna-Dreesch, Ka ne se dasee kawun!’ Then a third alert needs to be raised in Dari.
The manual goes on to say that ‘if you have no reaction, repeat all three again…’
By this stage the Taliban will have disappeared completely or else would have open fired earlier, so the unfortunate German soldier may not have reached the second let alone the third language.
So what’s the relevance to a business blog?? Understanding cultural differences are key to being successful in international business, but it pays not to try to overdo things. Don’t try to overcomplicate – fit in to the local culture and understand the differences and minutae.
Keep it simple and be smart. And you won’t get shot.
A great time to Export – but do your homework first
June 1st, 2009
As we have been told many times now, it’s a great time to export, especially if a UK (and increasingly a US) company, as these businesses can take full advantage of weak currencies to leverage against competitors.
But it isn’t all plain sailing. You must do your homework before you start.
I was really interested to see an article in this weekend’s Sunday Times about Ben Sherman, the iconic UK streetwear brand and their recent foray into Europe. I was particularly interested as this is a sector I have real knowledge – I just couldn’t believe that they hadn’t researched their markets first.
It seems that the new International Sales Director decided that what worked in the UK would work around the world too. They set up a new distributor in France, advised them what they should be selling based on UK sell-through, and told them to get on with it.
Nobody ordered anything – the orders were just not coming through. After some serious head-scratching, they hit on the reason – in France no-body wants zip-fly jeans – men prefered button-fly in France – but it was too late – the damage was done.
LESSON NUMBER ONE – don’t try to export the same thing to everyone at the same time. Learn one market, do it properly, adapt if needed and then move onto the next.
Make sure you have a tailored approach for each country. There are many pitfalls if new to exporting – for example, offering a distributor exclusivity for a particular country only to discover that in reality his distribution is very limited. Also don’t rush out to appoint the first person who comes along just because they are ‘lovely and charming’ (DON’T appoint those you meet by chance at a trade fair – go and visit them and find out more before you commit).
So Plan, Plan and Plan – adjust and adapt. Think Global – Act Local. If you do your homework, international markets can become pivotal to future success.
German perfection. Tickets please!
May 20th, 2009
This week I was in Germany on a business trip.
Everything there runs like clockwork – the timetable says the train from Berlin will arrive at 11.42 and guess what? Yes – it magically arrives at 11.42 as the station clock ticks over to the exact time, spotlessly clean, with smiling (English speaking) staff handing out fresh hot coffee and snacks.
I lived in Germany for 18 months and so I am not surpised – it’s what I have come to expect from this country of perfection. But it always knocks visitors for six.
But can we compare our two nations from a business point of view? Germany, the number one export nation in the world, with high quality brands that are the envy of countless millions. The UK, a world leader in creativity and retailing, and up until recently, financial services in a less formal environment.
To me, Germany stands for precision and perfection. When I worked in Munich at a famous department store in the 80’s, we all had to arrive by 7.15am for breakfast, then had a daily training session until the store opened. Everything was planned to last last degree. All very serious.
Then at 5.30pm they all went mad, emptying out into the nearest Bierkeller, only to repeat the excercise the next morning.
In the UK we are far less orderly, (we still pile out to the Pub after work though) but that doesn’t make us any less capable of doing the job well. We have flexibility on our side, and an ability to see problems and their solutions in a far wider context than those I have worked with in Germany.
Which makes me realise that in Europe we have such a big melting pot of cultural dynamics and these have to be fully understood when doing business there. Try suggesting to an Italian or Spanish customer that you are happy with a sandwich over lunch ….
Plus the trains will never arrive on time in the UK however much we try….