Doing business in other parts of the world has its fair share of benefits for small business owners, from discovering untapped markets to increasing business exposure. However, it doesn’t come without its own set of challenges—namely, being able to properly and effectively communicate with people from around the globe. How to Overcome Cultural Differences in Business: Avoid the Mistakes that Everyone Else is Making When Doing Business Internationally by Chris Smit gives readers an in-depth look at how to overcome cultural differences that arise from doing business outside of the United States.
Culture is the heart of an organization, which means that in the international and multicultural business arena, it is not uncommon for misunderstandings and other communication difficulties to occur. Smit describes how the role of culture in international business has a key impact on international sales, marketing, managing work teams and more. Understanding the culture of someone across the globe takes time and patience, but by being culturally competent, which Smit describes as being able to assess the situation you’re in from a cultural perspective, we can find ways to develop enriching relationships with those from all backgrounds.
Born in Amsterdam, Smit is no stranger to working with different cultures. After moving to the United States as a teenager, Smit had to get accustomed to basic American culture in school, such as standing and putting your hand over your heart during the pledge of allegiance. Smit later went on to work for a major international airline as a marketing and sales consultant, where he traveled all corners of the world building relationships with people who had vast cultural differences. Whether you’re a small business owner interested in taking your business overseas or are looking for strategies to improve your intercultural communication with existing business partners, this book will provide in-depth examples and tips to help you and your business prosper.