subject: Why Cultural Awareness Training Is Necessary Before Doing Business In Europe? [print this page] Developing strong business relationships is not really an easy thing to do. However, loosing your customers' trust could be a very fast process if not managed properly. Compared to this, driving a Lamborghini or Ferrari on a German highway could be considered as very slow!
Creating the ideal working together when facing your own team or your clients could be a cumbersome thing.
Its quite strange to understand that many companies are still not aware of the importance of local business culture. Far too often this crucial element is still treated like a soft animal and so not on top of the priority list.
Like every continent, Europe is full of things to know. With its complex structure and variety of people and countries it would be very challenging to use the terminology of European business. You can only make that failure once!
Interested to know some reasons why cultural awareness training is necessary before doing business in Europe?
Listen very carefully; I shall say this only once:
Europe does not exist
All Europeans are truly different
No single country is 100 % comparable to one another
Even talking the same languages (linguistically) is not a guarantee for equal minds
Sensitivity has a different value everywhere
The voice and speech tone could distract you
Some countries have an invisible wall to protect themselves
The word and decision of the boss has a different value comparing country A to B
People could just love or truly hate your jeans trousers
Time to decide is something quite relative (like Einsteins theory)
Taking initiatives and risks changes from West to East and from North to South
Political influences do probably exist everywhere but not all will tell you
What people would do for money is far different in the East
Lunches and dinners are or very important or for the stomach only
Many people speak many languages but not in every country
Some countries can be clustered as more or less comparable souls
Corruption is a national sport in many countries but ssssstttthhhh
The climate stresses or embraces people
Often who you know is more important than what you know
The level of service is not always what you expect
People are usually friendly but not everywhere and always
Big behavior differences do even exist within smaller countries
Only some local laws and regulations are truly common European
Some countries have silent trains where you are not allowed to speak J
Many cities have their own brand and high specialty
You need to create your business and communication strategy on a country-basis! Unless you would assume that a German business meeting would be similar to a French one.
