Jean Moncrieff exemplifies the unprecedented proliferation of global, multicultural teams.
“I work with a truly global team,” the marketing consultant wrote in a recent blog post. “I’m drafting this post from a coffee shop in Toronto, my partner is in Santiago and the rest of our inbound marketing team spread across Romania, the U.S. and South Africa.”
To be successful in cross-cultural negotiation, you need to put together the right team.
First your crew should be comprised of people who are skilled in cultural competence. You’ll need people who are calm and patient when unexpected obstacles arise. When possible, pick team members who have experience dealing with a particular culture or speak the local language.
Just as different parts of the world have different time zones, they also have varying perceptions of time. In many cultures, people live in the present. They find the western view of time strange. For example, Arabs call Westerners slaves to the clock. When interacting with other cultures, it’s wise to develop your sense of patience.
