When on Mars, do as the Martians do
If you want to expand internationally, you will come into contact with other cultures and behavior that deviates from what you are used to. If you are on a business trip, the cultural differences stand out and you can tell beautiful stories about them when you return back home. If you start your own branch overseas, cultural difference brings an extra and very important area of attention in the organization, which will not go away, and which requires constant attention.
Many takeovers, joint ventures and foreign start-ups function less than expected or fail because the cultural aspect is underestimated.
We are all familiar with some practical examples that show how difficult it can be to work effectively in an international setting. Often “different” behavior is recognized but not understood. Collaboration is difficult and progress stagnates.
The question you ask yourself: Why doesn’t the other person understand me?
Everyone starts from their own culture and these differ from country to country. For successful international business, it is important to understand and accept that there are differences.
“Three quarters of the world’s misery and misunderstandings would end if people put on their opponents’ shoes and understand their views”
Recognize that there are differences between people.
Understanding these differences will reduce misunderstandings and improve international collaboration.
In our experience it is more constructive to focus on the company’s vision and the desired corporate culture and not to focus on cultural differences and associated behavior in isolation.
The corporate culture gives direction to desired behavior in order to achieve the business objectives. As a result, every employee will have to be aware of his behavior. Within this framework, sufficient attention must be paid to national cultural differences.