I am the local ambassador in Detroit for www.InterNations.org, an online community that meets regularly. The membership is comprised of expatriates living in the area as well as Americans who have lived abroad or are globally minded through travel/interest.  Our group met last night for happy hour.  It is always an interesting mix of folks from all over the world. With travel experiences that could be written about.  What is so great is we all live in Detroit now – we all share a love of travel and adventure.  And meeting other people with that same passion, help feeds our souls.

For me, these relationships are key to growing personally and professionally.  I have made friendships that have helped me get work and jobs.  Additionally, I can honestly say that if I traveled to almost anywhere in the world, I have a great place to stay with a friend and a built in tour guide.  This is a great deal of comfort because traveling alone can be daunting.

This can also be a great benefit in the global business arena…as strong relationships are a MUST.

American’s are known for their “time is money” ways and are often very superficial in their business relationships; compartmentalizing their personal and professional lives.  In most of the rest of the world – people’s personal relationships are what drive their professional dealings.  Understanding this important cultural nuance will not only help you professionally but enrich you personally. 

Taking the time and really getting to know your customer, distributor and vendor in other parts of the world will help you build trust, credibility and friendships.  The stronger relationship may help you get what you want faster, easier or even cheaper.  Think about it – you are more apt to do favors for your friends as opposed to strangers. 

6 tips to building multicultural relationships:

1.  be open: willing to ask questions and share information

2.  be tolerant of differences: just because it is not what you do – don’t assume it is wrong

3.  do what you say you will do:  if you suggest doing coffee – make a date

4.  leave business for last: let them guide the conversation that direction

5.  reach out: ask them to do something like dinner, a bike ride or a visit to a place of interest

6.  learn: inquire about their language, culture, traditions etc

Everyone loves to talk about themselves, knowing how to ask good questions and taking the time to listen to their answers is as good as gold.

I love the global model of relationships, I like learning about their families, holidays and their work. I believe I have learned more about myself and what it means to be an American by having wonderful relationships with friends around the world.  I know that I am richer in my soul and pocketbook for knowing my international friends. 

What are some ways you take time to get to know the people you work with around the world?

Questions in the quiz talk about:

What is a sign you are pleased with a meal in Japan?

What do you do when you are given a left handed fork?

Do the French like Ketchup?

Should you eat everything on your plate in China?

and many more.

I know when I travel, I notice many places drink carbonated water and don’t use ice – both different than here in the U.S.

Have you seen any other unusual manners while traveling around the globe?

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! 

This risk can be easily mitigated by just a few small preparations.  Jeremy Van Dam, Senior Director at Integrated Directives, Inc helps both government officials as well as civilian travelers have safer experiences when visiting or doing business globally.

Our discussion focused on security tactics on both a personal and physical(assets) level.

With tips like:

1.  Staying between the 3rd and 7th floors to prevent break ins and allowing for fire trucks to reach you in case of a fire emergency.

2.  Carrying important information on your body at all times via a zip drive.

3.  Understand your physical surroundings and landmarks.

I have traveled extensively and all of these tips are great for ensuring you have a safe, fun and great international travel experience.

What is the boy scout motto?  Always be prepared!