• What do you think are three big mistakes an international negotiator can make

Question

• What do you think are three big mistakes an international negotiator can make when negotiating in a different country?

• If your boss tells you to lighten up the mood in the room and you know humor can create pitfalls what might you do? (you can be culture specific)

• Describe a brief scenario where you had a cultural miscommunication and what was the result?

Links:

Humor and culture in international business | Chris Smit | TEDxLeuven

https://youtu.be/MB6NXzGKMKg

International Business - American Slang Hurts International Negotiations

https://youtu.be/dfMGEj2aRXw

International Business - Mistakes Americans Make with World Cultures

https://youtu.be/I0AKSSAdsHQ

Explanation / Answer

What do you think are three big mistakes an international negotiator can make when negotiating in a different country?

1- Know the culture- While negotiating in other country, one must know what the culture of that country is and what belief system your would be partner follows. You can rehearse your pitch for hours in the mirror, but if you haven’t taken the time to research and prepare, no amount of scripting will help you.

2- Plan well- Heading into a negotiation, you should be ready to back up your ask with data. You can't take time and ask your home country which is in another time zone, about the paers you missed. It can be ROI you’ve achieved, comparable salary information, or testimonials from happy clients. Know your plan details and more importantly, be ready to prove it. Also have in mind areas where you’re willing to make compromises or concessions.

3- Language and Physical Cues- If you are not well versed with language of your prospective partner then you will be in abig time trouble. Language issues can make or break a deal. Also your physically way to sit in a room can also have an impact in different cultures. In less hierarchical cultures such as in Canada, Sweden or Britain there tends not to be any sort of formal rules around who sites where. Cross over to places like Japan, China, Korea or India and it very different. Where you sit defines who you are and your role. Misreading these signals out of cultural ignorance can lead to embarrassment for both parties.

If your boss tells you to lighten up the mood in the room and you know humor can create pitfalls what might you do ?

I will start involving others in any light discussion which can bring smiles on their face. It can be their personal experiences, encounters in funny situations. From one line, many other lines appear automatically from other people and the purpose of lighten up the mood will be served.

Describe a brief scenario where you had a cultural miscommunication and what was the result?

Once I was in Japan where I met some locals on street who was waiting for me as they were there to take me ahead for an imprtant meeting. I was not aware of their way to say hello. So when I meet them, they bent down and I started thinkingthat my laces might be open or something from my pocket fell or they might throw something by mistake. After a while I understood and we both tarted laughing.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse #
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.