Each nation stands out because of its traditions, culture and language. Knowing the cultural differences, rules and customs of a given country and adapting our behaviour can lead to a beautiful and flourishing business and meeting new valuable people.
Cultural differences are what makes our world great!
How many of you struggle to do business with other nationalities? Although globalization has reached us, we listen to the same music and watch the same films on Netflix, our sense of humour, approach to business and private affairs can vary significantly. This means that we will need at least a basic awareness of the differences and similarities between our two nations to establish a more profound relationship.
Formal VS Informal Nations
Once, at a networking event, I was asked by a Briton: “Why are Poles so formal? Don’t they trust others?” It turned out that after a business meeting, he got the impression they are very restrained and unwilling to build a relationship. Most just waited to get ‘to the point’ and when realised they would not sign the contract there and then, they quickly lost interest as they didn’t want to waste any more time.
At the first meeting, Eastern Europeans can usually be more restrained and formal than other nationalities. Arriving in the UK and studying at the University of Chester, I was shocked when my law professor asked all students to call him “Phil.” Compared to the education system in Poland, where since high school, teachers are called “Mr.” or “Professor”, the lack of formalities between a student and a teacher (or even a Professor!) astonished me.
What to expect in Poland?
In Poland, during the initial business meetings at which we are just getting to know each other, we tend to address others as Mr/Mrs and add the person’s first name or surname (e.g. Good morning, Mr Smith). Tradition and upbringing instilled in our childhood allow us to switch to the first-name basis only when we met this person 2 or 3 times, but if they’re older than us, they must propose switching to the first-name basis first. In Poland, a formal approach is common, even if people have known each other for years.
What to expect in the UK? – Cultural differences in the world
On the other hand, in Great Britain, working with the British, we can communicate freely and use their first name from the very first meeting. Additionally, it is interesting that only primary school children in the United Kingdom refer to their teachers as “Mrs Smith.”
Intercultural differences do not only apply to Great Britain and Poland, but to all countries, e.g. in Spain there is a similar style of communication as in Great Britain, although you can use the phrase Mr./Mrs, and in Chile, where they also speak Spanish, they prefer formal communication, as it is in Poland.
Another difference between British and Poles is the fact that Poland is a country where hierarchical division is common. It is important to remember that older people should always be referred to as Mr/Mrs/Miss unless you’ve been told otherwise.
Being in the UK and attending networking events, fortunately, we don’t have to worry about the formalities. When someone introduces themselves as Mike, we can use their first name from the beginning.
How to small talk?
The simplest and best conversation starter is the question “Have you come from far?” often asked by Queen Elizabeth. This question gives you unlimited opportunities to develop a conversation and learn more about the person you’re talking to, e.g. “From Manchester? I was there recently at a concert. How long do you live there?”
Remember to ask open-ended questions, i.e. the ones that an answer can be longer than a simple Yes or No. Thanks to this, you will create an opportunity for the person to give you more information, and you’ll learn more about their life.
We often come across the statement that small talk is „a conversation about nothing” but this couldn’t be more wrong. Small talk allows you to get the most valuable information about who the person is, what he does for a living and what is his passion. This means that when we move to the next step of building a relationship, i.e. follow-up, we will be able to personalize our message with information we got from them.
International body language 101
It is said that the British love to queue, and to some, these queues look as if between two people we could fit one more person (or two, in some cases). On the other hand, in Poland, all people stand very close to each other to avoid others trying to cut the queue.
At a networking meeting, remember to keep the right distance when you talk to a person you just met. You don’t want to make a bad impression or for them to feel uncomfortable, especially when we would like to develop a relationship with them in the future.
According to Cultural Atlas, the British are reserved in terms of their personal space and physical contact, so always consider this if you want to make a good impression on a newly met person.
Each country’s business and personal space are different, and it’s worth paying attention to because the person will always give you non-verbal cues if they feel uncomfortable, e.g. they will start stepping away from you when you’re in their personal space.
It is best to make direct eye contact that breaks away now and again. Prolonged eye contact can make people feel uncomfortable, and staring is impolite.
Consider culture and upbringing in every multinational interaction. It is easy to judge a person through our own tunnel vision, but we will only understand one another if we consciously decide to get to know the tradition and culture in which the person grew up.
When we look at our differences, accept them and adapt our communication accordingly, we will be able to establish lasting relationships and build and develop our business faster.
