Doing Business Internationally?

 What do you need to know when conducting business international? If you are in business, you are doing some type of international business. It is difficult these days to conduct business without having some type of international touch points.

If you are in the product business, some part of your product is from out of the country. If you are providing a service, you are using some type of technology and/or service that has an international base.

So now that you know that you are doing business internationally, even if it is remotely, what can you do when interacting with clients over the water?

Time:  Due to different time zones, it is important to understand that others are either hours earlier than you; or hours late than you. And you must be prepared to engage customers, clients, and/or business partners on their time. Just because it is late for you and they know there is a time differences, does not mean that they want you to be in pajamas on a 10:00 p.m. Zoom call.

Culture and Rituals:  Every country has a different set of rules. Whether it’s politics, family engagements, or thoughts of religion; you must read upon them and not necessarily be fluent in them but understand the basic tenets. I know this might sound crazy or over the top, but for some, certain aspects of life or at the forefront. So, where America sets aside its ‘politics and religion’; Other cultures believe you can’t have one with the other. Be mindful of this!

Speed is money:  This isn’t dependent upon anything out of the MEANING! The faster you can get something done, the faster you make money and the more of it you make. As spoken about in the previous section while focusing on culture and religion is important, focusing on speed almost trumps those. I know this sounds crazy, but if you produce a certain quality of work in a timely manner your lack of knowledge about your customer’s culture will be gladly overlooked.

Takeaway:

As the world progress more, more ‘local’ business will be conducting international business. Especially the growth of social media, it is important more than ever to ensure that we understand international etiquette when doing business with others over international waters.

~  Attorney Ronnie O’Brien Rice, Ph.D.

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Location: Alabama, USA

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