Этика делового общения

Business Communication Ethics

Сондра Сен (Sondra Sen)

Business Communication Ethics

With increased globalization, it is critical for today's managers and future business leaders to increase their understanding and comfort level with customers, associates, and partners abroad. Worldwide business organizations have discovered that intercultural communication is very important. The life of every businessperson is made up of a series of meetings and greetings. Cultural differences can either highlight and clarify or distort and confuse what is said.

So, before starting a business with a foreign company it is necessary to get some information about the country and its political and economic situation, local customs and traditions, religion and cultural sensitivities to avoid making faux pas.

1. The UK: The British are rather formal. Shake hands with everyone at a meeting upon arrival and maintain eye contact during the greeting. Business cards are exchanged at the initial introduction without formal ritual. The business card may be put away with only a cursory glance. Most people use Mr, Mrs or Miss and their surname, and only medical doctors and the clergy use their professional or academic titles in business. If your business partner is from the UK, remember that the appointments should be made at least a few days in advance.

Punctuality is appreciated. Rank is respected and business people prefer to deal with people at their level. It is always desirable to send older, senior representative to the UK for face-to-face discussions, as British business culture remains essentially hierarchical. Decision-making can be a slow, deliberate process, and also one should take into account that precedent plays an important part in the decision-making. Also western business culture places emphasis on clearly presented and rationally argued business proposals using statistics and facts. Networking and relationship building are often keys to long-term business success.

2. The USA: Most business partners will introduce themselves with the first name, and this is usually the way you address each other.

However, you still should be careful especially with new customers and people in higher ranks. If you are unsure, always go with a "Mr. Smith" first. Handshaking is an important procedure in the Western Civilization and has its place in the American Business culture. The concept “time is money” is taken seriously in the US business culture. American business people are opportunistic, willing to take chances, direct and will not hesitate to disagree with you. Persistence is another characteristic you will frequently encounter in American business people; there is a prevailing belief that there is always a solution. Consistency is common among Americans; when they agree to a deal, they rarely change their minds. "No religion", "no politics". This unwritten rule is carried out in the world of USA business. So, as a general rule: in the beginning of a business relationship avoid any topic related to politics, religion, race, gender and so on.