Often, when people come to the UK from other countries, they can experience a culture shock. Not only is it a stressful experience, but it can also impact relationships and business.
Some cultural differences can make our networking journey more difficult. If you want to reach key business contacts in the UK and build good relationships, you should learn more about multicultural communication.
Multicultural Communication
Many times, I have heard a belief that British businessmen are fake and will never tell the truth outright. Many nationalities have an issue working with other nationalities due to cultural differences. For Poles, the most important thing in business is honesty and openness, and Brits tend to hide the meaning between the lines. We are divided by certain cultural differences, and we should learn to read certain signs, i.e. read between lines.
Remember, how we approach business and communication depends on the prism of our upbringing and the culture in which we were brought up. But we are not alone! Similar to Poles, the Dutch, Germans and even Americans like to lay it on the line (the same language as England, but a different approach).
In contrast, in Eastern culture, e.g. Japanese businessmen value diplomacy and avoiding confrontation at all costs, so it is worth paying attention, not to the words, but to the context because “We will call you” may well mean that they will not.
The second example is “It’s going to be difficult.” For Poles, this means that we can start solving problems arising, but in fact, this simply means “No”. This can be a great shock for many other nationalities, especially at the beginning.
On the other hand, the British who do business with Poles see it from a different perspective. They even consider Pole’s approach as aggressive.
Can we learn cultural differences?
Some people believe that either someone can listen or not; can build relationships or not; is open to other cultures or not. However, change is possible and even necessary. Everyone can learn about cultural differences if they’d like to. It is enough to be open to other nations and be curious about how they work.
"Building relationships will definitely contribute to a better bond between nations, and it can warm this cultural difference up."
Interestingly, despite years of successful cooperation with other nationalities, it may turn out that as a result of a stressful situation we will return to our basic nature!
How we perceive other cultures is inherent in where we come from and how we were brought up – it depends on our intercultural glasses. Moreover, all our opinions about another culture come from comparing our own experiences with what we have encountered elsewhere. It also happens right away that we judge it either negatively (How can you drive on the left side of the road?) or positively. You could say that judging is communication’s biggest enemy!
“Intercultural communication is very often like dance partners get-together, especially people who have never danced together before. Real Tango ”
What culture consists of?
Multicultural communication 101
"Culture is a very broad concept because it is a concept created by people, so depending on the part of the world, origin, what we taken from our parents and what we have learned, what we have soaked in - it can be learned".
We can distinguish culture as visible and invisible. Visible culture includes language, music, fashion, and architecture; and the invisible culture is our beliefs, attitudes and history.
"Culture is an oak that has grown up 1000 years (from the film Miś)".
You could say that culture is common sense. Everyone has their own – because for a Briton, driving on the left side of the road is common sense, and for a Pole, common sense is driving on the right. There is no one common sense! And it is the same with culture. Everyone has their own.
First of all – Build Relationships
Remember that the mistakes are relative – that is, they depend on the context. What works with Poles in Poland may not work in the UK and vice versa. The British make similar mistakes in Poland and need to learn to collaborate with Poles.
When talking to other people, pay attention to their body language and nationality, and adjust your communication flexibly for a better effect. Remember that building a relationship and multicultural communication is a dance between two people!
You have to be curious about people and the world to be successful in the international arena. Build relationships, talk to people and maintain your contacts. This will help you to build strong relationships, but remember to be patient!
You have to sow a seed, take care of it and then… the magic happens!
‘Do as you would be done by’ – doesn’t work in intercultural communication! If you’d like to learn how to communicate with your leads online, read DIGITAL TALK – how NOT to do business online article.
