Differences in Communication
If you have traveled a lot before, you know that there are huge differences in communication between people from one country to another. In some cultures, people are loud, direct or even blunt and tend to interrupt others during a conversation. In others, people are typically soft-spoken, use flowery or indirect language and wait patiently for others to finish their sentence.
During a business meeting, these differences are likely to come to the fore. Try to adjust to the way your business partners communicate, e.g. when addressing and greeting your business partners, your boss and your colleagues. Always use last names and titles unless you are invited to do otherwise.
Hierarchies may have a great influence on the communication style in your new surroundings, so it is important to keep an eye on this. The most senior business partner may be the one who is making the decisions at a meeting. Failing to acknowledge their status within the company or to greet them with due respect can leave a bad impression.
Valuing Time
Cultural differences also become apparent in differing concepts of time. Is the scheduled time frame for a meeting set in stone, or does it allow for some flexibility? Will you jeopardize a business deal by arriving late, or is it perfectly acceptable to let family matters, for example, take precedence over business appointments?
A popular example: Everyone would agree that Germans are well-known for their punctuality. In many African and South American countries,