Mistakes in international business: how to avoid cultural misunderstandings?

In contrast, the British tend to choose less serious subjects, such as the weather or differences between time zones.

In the past six months, the COVID-19 pandemic has become a common topic of discussion in many corners of the world.

Long-term business relationships

According to Natalia Shubina, who works at one of the companies, she has been negotiating with business partners from Germany or Switzerland for months, and sometimes even years. These long interactions facilitate the exchange of personal information among the participants, creating a more trusting atmosphere and making the conversations less formal.

Cafés as a place for meetings

In Greece, there is a tradition of meeting business partners in the inviting atmosphere of a café. Alina Churikova emphasizes that Greek colleagues, even when it comes to business matters, start meetings with coffee.

• To successfully do business in Greece, one should not only invite partners for coffee but also be ready to accept such an invitation themselves.

• If a Greek partner has a new proposal, they usually discuss it first with the person they regularly meet for a cup of coffee.

Language of communication in a business environment

When it comes to the language of communication, special attention should be paid to the differences in forms of address. If a particular culture distinguishes between addressing someone as "you" (formal) and "you" (informal), it is advisable to avoid switching to the informal "you".

For example, German colleagues highly value traditional polite forms of address.“You”,“Mr.”and“Mrs.”In Greek business culture, polite forms of address are commonly used, such as“Kyriya”Madam and“Kyrie”Mr., which is similar to Russian.“you”.

For Europeans, maintaining distance in business relationships is a widely accepted norm. Some employees believe that transitioning to“you”It can have a negative impact on the atmosphere in the office and may lead to awkward moments in the future.

Addressing in the English-speaking environment

Nevertheless, in English-speaking environments, for Germans, the transition to using first names happens much more easily after the first official letter, without the use of formal titles such as“mister”or“Miss”.

Therefore, in business negotiations, it is important to show genuine politeness and caution.

Cold calling and business ethics

When managers make cold calls and reach the office secretary or office manager, they most often hear the standard response that their message will be passed on to the appropriate specialist. This form of polite interpersonal communication, while it may be perceived as good manners, often does not guarantee continued contact in the future.

In most cases, when Europeans receive offers that do not interest them, they respond quite politely, saying phrases like "let's stay in touch." More often than not, this is where communication with foreign partners ends. Many residents of Europe consider it impolite to openly express their unwillingness to continue interaction, so polite words should not always be taken as a signal for further cooperation.

The ability to have a constructive conversation and receive a detailed response increases if your interlocutor has professional knowledge in the discussed field. For example, manager Natalia Shubina shares her experience:

“When communicating with CEOs or sales leaders, they always listen to my proposals until the end and ask additional questions. This allows us to assess whether we can find common ground with foreign partners.”

Features of business communication in Montenegro

A feature of business communications in Montenegro is that many government institutions effectively cease operations in August and December. For example, we had a case where, due to parliamentary elections, a client was unable to obtain the necessary signatures from officials on important documents from July to October, which created difficulties in processing property rights. When working with European partners, it is advisable to avoid December, as they prefer to wrap up all their current affairs before the Christmas holidays.

Starting from December 1st, many people put off work-related matters, and activity noticeably decreases, making this period less suitable for productive communication. In December, it's extremely difficult to get in touch with European colleagues.

Problems in August

Similarly, in August, it is also difficult to organize serious projects. Victoria Baskakova notes with regret that among the German partners:

• Someone is on vacation;

• Someone is waiting for him;

• Someone is reminiscing about the past holidays.

In Greece, in addition to the usual seasonal vacations, work also slows down due to climate factors, as many offices and government agency branches close for an entire month. Moreover, Greeks do not work on religious holidays. Important events, such as Pentecost and others, are considered official holidays.

Greeks also celebrate their name days, which are often considered a more important holiday than their birthdays. To maintain good relations with Greek partners, it's important to remember to congratulate them on this special day.

Principles of interaction with foreign colleagues

The main principle in interacting with foreign colleagues isrespecttheir personal space, as well as a considerate attitude towards national holidays and traditions. For example, taking siesta time into account, it is important to plan communication carefully.

All these aspects are crucial for establishing effective business relationships and maintaining a respectful atmosphere between partners.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while exploring cultural differences in international business, I realized how important attention to detail is. Discovering the nuances of communication with partners from different countries not only helps avoid misunderstandings but also deepens mutual understanding, creating stronger business relationships.

Each of the eight mistakes mentioned in the article clearly demonstrates how the nuances of cultural differences can impact the course of negotiations and the level of trust between the parties.

Key mistakes in collaboration

• Avoid calling Greeks during siesta.

• Confirm meetings with German partners in advance.

• Consider the preference for written communication among Europeans.

Observing some simple rules—whether it's avoiding calls to Greeks during siesta or confirming meetings with Germans in advance—can significantly enhance the effectiveness of interactions. Personally, I've found that honesty, respect, and attentive consideration for others are not just business strategies, but also the key to successful collaboration.

In practice, I have noticed that using messengers for communication with Asian partners significantly saves time, while writing confirmation emails after phone calls with Europeans strengthens our working relationship. Openness about personal life in small talk can be the beginning of a deeper mutual understanding, making communication not only professional but also human.

Result

In conclusion, understanding cultural nuances in business is not only a necessity but also an opportunity to broaden communication horizons, increase trust levels, and strengthen professional connections. To achieve success, it is important to be attentive and sensitive to cultural differences, which will undoubtedly enrich us both as professionals and as individuals.