Nguyễn Lê Thanh Trúc – Nói 4 D04

Homework - WEEK 3

Suggest some ways to get culturally well-prepared in doing business internationally

SCRIPT:

Is it polite or impolite to cross your legs when sitting on a chair in other countries?

In Japan, when sitting on a chair, it is impolite to cross legs. If you work with Arab clients, crossing
legs and showing the sole of shoes is an offense to them. However, in US, sitting with crossed legs is
ordinary.

Cultural differences may lead to unpredictable misunderstandings, but can also have cultural
conflicts in doing business globally. It means that it is crucial for businesses to understand the
culture of their foreign market. So how to avoid cultural misunderstandings or to get culturally
well-prepared in doing business internationally? There are 3 tips help you deal with this problem.

Cultural knowledge

It is necessary to study the culture of your destination beforehand. Just knowing simple facts about
the country and how daily life is lived can help you integrate better into the society. You could also
look up useful, everyday tips, like how people greet each other, how to remove shoes in homes.
These may seem like trivial things, but some cultures take these customs very seriously.

For example: Many countries in Asia find it disrespectful if you don't remove your shoes before
entering a building. Countries like the USA and Canada find it disrespectful if you don't tip your
waiters and bartenders. 

Doing a little research on the country you're going to is a great way to prepare yourself for the
cultural differences you'll experience. You need to understand cultural differences that could affect
your business’s viability.

Managing feelings:

Feeling confident in yourself could make a good impression on others. And keeping calm could help
you solve problem effectively.

Some people are hesitant to open up to cultural differences. Having a positive attitude, always
wearing a smile, and being patient will help your communication with the locals immensely. Even if
you prepare yourself and respect the culture, sometimes things can go wrong and you may feel
stressed, upset or angry. If you don't speak the language, use gestures and hand signals as best as
you can. 

The people you work with are willing to accept you into their lives and help you have a wonderful
experience, so you need to manage feelings to maintain positive emotions. 
Being more accepting

If you are unsure what is appropriate, be more structured and have more explicit communication
rather than less, remember that sometimes it’s not easy to gain an understanding of cultural
difference, for whatever reason. In these situations, the best approach is just to acknowledge that
some people are different and to accept that that’s okay.

These 3 ways are not the only good ones, but it help you get culturally well-prepared in doing
business internationally. It can take a little time, but the experiences you gain is precious and
memorial for your job.