Basics of Cross-Cultural Management Skills

The world of business has gone global for several decades, exemplified by the latest financial crisis that started in the United States in 2007 and rapidly spread around the globe, testifying to the fact that "deals" have and are being done in the easiest manner, particularly when aided by a simple computer and the internet.

However, a significant number of business people today still prefer to perform business functions on a face to face basis. Body language is considered to be a critical element to be observed, especially when engaged in negotiation settings, definitely not an easy task when negotiations are conducted over the phone or the internet.

Anyone who ever had to make contact with a call center, particularly for financial institutions, is quite aware of the fact that the person on the other end is probably not a national of their own country. Companies always strongly emphasize customer satisfaction and a good portion of them will relocate some employees to the country where the call center functions have been outsourced to, just to monitor quality assurance for example.

As such, cross-cultural management skills  have become a critical criterion in the pursuit of success within the global business environment. It is therefore imperative for students contemplating careers in international business to learn such skills and international business managers even rate the ability to work with people from different cultures as the dominant quality of success.

Unlike technical skills, intercultural awareness and skill are not as easy to learn, definitely not by brushing up on a "how to" manual or getting familiar with a simple formula. These skills are to be developed over an extended period of time and constantly honed on.

Learning about the local etiquette is probably one of the first area that makes it somewhat easier to understand the local culture and is absolutely critical on first contact. You know what is said about the first impression, not easily forgotten.

Etiquette will also be the key to open the door leading to the next important element of cross-cultural management skills.

Developing business friendships.

U.S. business people have always drawn the line between business and pleasure but that is not neccearily true of other cultures and societies.

The significance of friendships in the context of developing cross-cultural management skills CANNOT be overstated.

Somewhere in the world today, "deals" are still being done on a handshake.

Moreover, business friendships that are well developed can lead to other unforeseen opportunities, in turn leading to further promotion and benefits.

Developing business friendships is quite frankly an art to be learned and the significance of business friendships will only become apparent once actively involved in such.