Bridging Two Worlds With a Cross-Cultural Consulting Firm
The Fastest Way to Gain Knowledge of Another Culture Is From a Cross-Cultural Consulting Expert
The world is shrinking. Meanwhile, your company is growing, and no matter the size of your business, you'll likely cross paths with a customer from another culture. To be competitive and one step ahead of competitors, you'll need to be culturally savvy. The most expedient way to gain knowledge of another culture is to find a company that specializes in cross-cultural consulting. The global reach has improved with e-mail and Web conferencing. So even the simplest things can be misconstrued if you're not informed.
Take India, says Junction International, the Florida-based cross-cultural consulting firm. People there will shake their head side-to-side to indicate that they agree with what you're saying. This is the opposite of the United States, where people will shake their head side-to-side when disagreeing or to indicate "no." Here, people will bob their heads up and down to say "yes." But in India, the opposite is true. Up and down means a big fat NO, as in don't go there.
Mergers and acquisitions are common occurrences these days. When two companies morph into one, a cross-cultural consulting firm can ease the transition and open the channels of communication. Every company has its own internal business culture. To successfully merge, a cross-cultural consulting firm can assist companies in deciphering cultural differences as well as managing the cultural integration process with positive results.
When dealing with clients from another country, it's inevitable there will be cultural differences. An experienced cross-cultural consulting firm can provide peace of mind. Culture experts can bring far-flung global teams closer to reach a common goal, or arm project managers sent to Dubai, Thailand or Scotland with data they need to succeed. On-the-job knowledge isn't always enough; a project manager must also be a diplomat. In addition, a cross-cultural consulting firm can mentor the project manager, who will be living abroad and will need training and counseling to help him settle in successfully, too.
