Happy CEO

Today’s global economy has changed so much and at such a speed that companies, attacked in their own internal markets, have had to adapt and conquer new frontiers to remain competitive.
In this race against time, men and women knew how to adapt to the international context of their tasks in order to perform. How ?

Doing business or more with foreign countries requires a certain open-mindedness and a refined understanding of humankind.

Even if it is true that the weight of history gives every country a special position in the community of nations, the advice I would like to give you is to try not to be “too chauvinist” in your behaviour.

Your country, even if we love it, is neither the center of the world, nor the most beautiful, nor the best. Too many people when they discuss with their partner flaunt their heritage without even being interested in the country in which they have their feet.

One of the essential components remains the cultural dimension of the relationship one establishes with one’s foreign partner. Know how to apprehend its mode of operation, its behavior, its thought.

This is called the company’s multicultural approach in its international strategy.
Know how to adapt to all cultures and social, economic, political systems and know how to include them in a global business approach.

Knowing how to negotiate by modifying your approach according to the borders is the key to building relationships and income over time. In some culture, virtually everything is negotiable.
For example, knowing how to manage interaction over a very long period (sometimes several years in Asia), identifying the avowed and/or hidden needs of the opposing party, finding common ground where both parties have mutual benefit and save the face.

Embrace and understand these differences making the commercial approach more difficult, more specialized.
In many countries around the world, modern Western aggressive bargaining is not appropriate because their culture is not ours.

Think

What do we have in common? our differences? what are the real or unacknowledged barriers? How can I adapt my behavior to a Russian, Japanese, Brazilian, Indian, South African, Bulgarian or Turkish partner?

Place your people at the center of your strategy because beyond your product, however good it may be, it is people who create events. And make sure they have a good dose of humanism.

If you plant a seed somewhere, it won’t grow on its own. Above all, cultivate it. The future of your business depends on it. Take care of it as if your own life depended on it.

Key principles

Cultivate the relationship before and beyond a quick signing.
Open your mind and your heart.
Know how to strip your ego.
Forget your prejudices.
Show respect.
Love cultural diversity.
Don’t be too directive.
Ask questions and… listen.
Focus on humans, not records.
Empty your mind, enjoy. Over there, it’s not here.

“All men are brothers. The golden rule of conduct is mutual tolerance, because we will never all think the same way, we will only see part of the truth and from different angles.”

Gandhi