1.  Keep up with world news and events – these influence the international marketplace and could have consequences on your global business opportunities

2.  Analyze trade and economic statistics – I know these can get a bit boring but they will help you identify which markets are growing and beneficial to your products and/or services.  The CIA World Fact Book a great place to start.

3.  Obtain advice from experts

• Export and Trade counselors (U.S. Dept of Commercial Services and SBA)
• Attend seminars, workshops and international trade shows
• International Trade Consultants (private firms)
• Seasoned Exporters (those who have been there and done that)
• Trade Associations (vary depending on industry and market)
• Talk with me (I provide consulting for companies looking to do business around the globe – beverly@globalbusinessperspectives.com)

4.  Screen Potential and Emerging Markets

• Obtain export stats that indicate your product or similar type product exports to various countries – where are current exports being shipped?
• Identify five to ten large and fast-growing markets for your company’s product – review the last 3-5 years to see that growth has been consistent
• Identify smaller but fast-emerging markets that may provide a ground floor opportunity.  Fewer competitors means larger market share for you and your company! 
• Target three to five of the most promising markets for further assessments and research.  Consult with local experts to further evaluate these markets.

Now is the time to be doing all this leg work…when the global economy rebounds you want to be perfectly positioned to capitalize on all those new customers! 

It is the process of exchanging meaningful and unambiguous information across cultural boundaries, in a way that preserves mutual respect and minimizes antagonism and creates inclusiveness.

Miscommunication is today’s greatest workplace hazard.  And with the world becoming smaller and more diverse, miscommunications seem to be happening more and more.  Why?

The typical consumer demographic is changing, our workforce is becoming more diverse, and technology is connecting us to people and regions we have never encountered before. 

People from different cultures encode and decode messages differently, increasing the chances of misunderstanding, so the safety-first consequence of recognizing cultural differences should be to assume that everyone’s thoughts and actions are not just like ours.

Here are just a few tips for having successful cross cultural communication.

• Research the cultures to gain understanding of a culture
• Set clear agendas and expectations of interactions/meetings
• Avoid using slang and idioms, choosing words that will convey only the most specific denotative meaning
• Listen carefully and, if in doubt, ask for confirmation of understanding (particularly important if local accents and pronunciation are a problem)
• Recognize that accenting and intonation can cause meaning to vary significantly
• Respect the local communication formalities/styles, and watch for any changes in body language
• Be careful of written word choices as your communication will be analyzed thoroughly by the recipient
• Investigate a culture’s perception of your culture by reading literature about your culture through their eyes before entering into communication. This will allow you to prepare yourself for projected views of your culture you will be bearing.
• If it is not possible to learn the other’s language, it is beneficial to show respect by learning a few words.

Remember the platinum rule:  Do unto others as THEY would have done to themselves not as we would do unto ourselves.

Do you have a story of when a cross-cultural communication encounter went terribly wrong and how you resolved it.  Please share!