| Cross-cultural differences impact all interactions. | | | | between cultures. |
| Today we are going to look at how the impact the | | | | Although cultural personality issues and |
| organization within a business. | | | | misunderstandings do happen, it is difficult to identify |
| Many readers may not quite be here yet. But I | | | | how culture influences teamwork within a company. |
| thought this would be interesting to look at. | | | | Most people learn to adapt to the different cultures |
| Are There Differences? | | | | and this enhances personal growth, interpersonal |
| - What makes an international business different? | | | | relations and intercultural interactions. |
| - Does an international business function differently | | | | And this is where there may be differences in an |
| from one that is not international? | | | | international company and a company that is not |
| - Are there international growing pains? | | | | international. |
| Apart from the legalities of operating an international | | | | Most of the employees in an international company |
| company, it is hard to identify any tangible | | | | will be at a comparable level of personal growth. |
| differences. | | | | They will have similar interpersonal and intercultural |
| In my personal experience, the differences are | | | | skills. |
| nuanced. They center around collective "soft" skills. | | | | And in a company that is not international, there |
| This obviously stems from the nature of | | | | could be wider differences in these areas. |
| "international skills" and "cross-cultural skills". | | | | Better Practices |
| Cultural Influences | | | | Beyond soft skills... |
| There are some obvious ways culture influences an | | | | What I have noticed from working with international |
| international business: | | | | companies, is that they seem to strive harder to |
| - The way how we present ourselves | | | | implement standard and industry best practices. |
| - How we express opinions | | | | Best practices seem to lessen the clash of cultures |
| - Assumptions based on the environment and | | | | within a company. These best practices are more |
| context | | | | widely accepted. They can also help to create a |
| - Perceptions of voice, and other personal physical | | | | collective identity. |
| details | | | | Best practices can also lessen the clash of cultures |
| When you work inside an international company, you | | | | outside the company when dealing with international |
| learn to adapt to these cultural differences. They | | | | clients. It does not matter where your clients are |
| stop interfering with communication. | | | | from, they also appreciate dealing with people that |
| Cultural Conflict Within A Company | | | | follow standard best practices. |
| Some people may think that conflict within an | | | | In the end it all comes down to working with good |
| international company is a result of the confrontation | | | | communication and within good business practices. |