Playing by the international rules of business etiquette

In an increasingly global environment, where conducting business half way around the world is becoming as common as conducting business across town, not being sensitive to cultural differences can put you and your company at a major disadvantage.

Abandoning commonly held lifelong beliefs, prejudices and practices is the first and most difficult step. Even something as simple as the exchange of business cards, a hastily orchestrated and often clichd routine in North America, is considered an almost sacred ritual in some countries.

Yet it is often the most common practices that can trip you up. Compounding already difficult and worrisome conditions is the fact that international business takes you away from familiar faces and out of your comfort zone, which adds stress to the process.

The important things to remember are to avoid causing offence, to learn from your mistakes and be prepared to adapt to ever-changing circumstances. And the best place to sharpen your international etiquette is at Reposition in Quebec City, which just happens to be one of the worlds most acclaimed international destinations.

Our cultural views are in large part influenced by our environment. The ability to communicate, socialize, negotiate and manage relationships in different cultural environments is essential to successful global business operations.

Multicultural effectiveness is primarily a function of knowledge, and with knowledge comes the ability to understand and be sensitive to different cultural perceptions and beliefs. In many parts of the world trust has to be earned before business is done, and success is closely linked to your ability to develop and maintain good long term relationships.

Going Global – An Introduction to the Cultural Aspects of International Trade presented by Mark Drake, CITP – will provide participants with the basis to understand the cultural aspects of international trade, the challenges of intercultural effectiveness and will suggest strategies to assist in overcoming cultural obstacles. Mark has spent most of his working life travelling the world on international assignments and has lived 15 years in continental Europe and Asia. He is looking forward to sharing his experiences at Reposition 2007.

Workshop Outline:
Understanding the Importance of Cultural Differences in International Business
Common Cultural Issues and Pitfalls
Business Communications
Cultural Differences and International Marketing
The Art of Negotiation Across Cultures
Relationship Building in an International Context
Key Characteristics of Intercultural Effectiveness
Overall Workshop Objectives:
Create awareness on how differing cultural dimensions affect business operations in the global marketplace.
Foster understanding of the complexities faced by business negotiators in global markets and the important role that relationship building plays in global business negotiations.
Identify personal characteristics that must be developed for an individual to be effective in different cultural environment.
Provide current and relevant online information to businesses through web sites recommended throughout this workshop