Ten Strategies for Success Abroad

Working across cultures requires a diverse skill set and a different approach from business in general. When bridging cultures both similar and foreign to your own, certain strategies are crucial to international business success. Here are ten strategies for interacting with people from different cultures.

Learn about the business beforehand.

This general business strategy becomes increasingly important when dealing with businesses across cultures. Get on their website, check out their promotional material. Get a feel for the atmosphere, attitude, and angle that the business has. Many cultural factors are passed down from the societal level to businesses. However, each organization will have its own culture, personality, and way of doing things.

• Learn about the business beforehand
  

• Observe.
  

• Ask questions.
  

• Stay aware of yourself.
  

• Allow for more time.
  

• Look for individual differences.
  

• Find the humor.
  

• Learn to tolerate uncertainty
  

• Arrive early.
  

• Build your intercultural skills.
  

To determine what skills you need to develop, reflect on past intercultural experiences (for people with limited experience abroad, think of experiences working and interacting with people and groups different from you). When do you become uncomfortable, rigid, or shut down? What mistakes have you made in the past? Commit yourself to continually developing the skills that will help you in similar situations in the future.

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