International Business: Culture Shock

Having to travel to a foreign country on an international assignment or to establish a business presence is exciting, as you are looking forward to taking advantage of the benefits and opportunities that the global economy now affords. However, along with having to understand factors like the local market and domestic business procedures, there is always the matter of facing major intercultural differences. Women in international business traveling overseas or hosting business visitors from another country may need to be particularly aware of the customs and cultures so as to avoid any negative impact on the business relationship.

Learning the local language or at least a few helpful phrases can go a long way in establishing some sort of communication. Many libraries now contain audio books for learning various languages. Try learning to speak a few important phrases like ‘Where is this place?’, ‘Please’, ‘Thank You’, ‘Hello’, ‘How much is this’, and so on. Also, understand what the local food will be like and take your time in learning their names and the ingredients so that you are comfortable selecting something from a menu. Of course, if you are fortunate to have some ethnic restaurants at home, you can always try some of the dishes and identify a few that you really like before you have to travel to the country.

Learning to dress appropriately may be another big step that you need to take. While comfort may be of paramount importance, women in many foreign countries tend to dress conservatively. Try to strike a convenient balance – business suits or dresses seem fairly standard worldwide while pantsuits in the classic style may also be accepted.

Women, in particular those in high executive positions may often have to deal with indifferent, often condescending attitudes from men they have to work with. People may either just stare at you, may not take the effort to be as courteous to you as to their male bosses or may even be downright rude to you. Whenever you can, ignore them – focus on the work at hand.

Traveling abroad is often a chance to do something different and offers a great break from the monotony of everyday hustle and bustle. However, it is also not easy to stay away from family and friends for extended periods. Be prepared before you leave, for times when you may really miss them – try emailing them or chatting with them.

Traveling on business trips also often means having to deal with a great deal of exhaustion. While jet lag is a common occurrence, one may also have to deal with high levels of noise and pollution. All this may not only take a physical toll but a mental toll as well which is not good since you will need a clear head to take proper business decisions. The best solution is to ensure that you get some time for yourself, either to workout, seek some entertainment or to just relax by yourself. Make sure you get enough sleep, eat healthy and take in plenty of fluids.

At all times, make an effort to enjoy your stay. If you do, your experience will turn out to be not one of cultural shock but cultural appreciation.