MPI Poland Spring Meeting 2011

Be a Competent Business Partner-What Anglophones Pay Attenion to

13 kwietnia 2012 r.

Be a Competent Business Partner

Keith Byrne – three important things about me-Why Are We Here?-How Do English Speakers Think?-English-English translations-How does an Anglophone Do Business?-Defining a Winning Strategy

Be a Competent Business Partner

•What is your neighbour like?•What are Germans/ Italians/ Americans/ Israelis/ Welshmen like?•What is an Anglophone like?

Be a Competent Business Partner

What are Polish people like?“Poles don’t speak foreign languages”“Never smile, complain a lot”“Intolerant and full of anti-semitism”“Poles invented vodka”“Poles are direct communicators”“Organized crime and car theft are commonplace”“Poles are silent listeners”“Insecure in front of foreigners”“Extremely generous”

Be a Competent Business Partner

Be a Competent Business Partner for the English

“The English are Masters of the Understatement”Be Diplomatic“You are right, I am wrong”Build TWO Bridges!People prefer to do business with a friend

Be a Competent Business Partner

Be a Competent Business Partner for Americans

“Business before pleasure”Get to the Point“This is right, that is wrong”Time is MoneyPeople prefer to do business with the best supplier

Be a Competent Business Partner for Everybody

Punctuality?Handshakes?Smalltalk?Eye Contact?Mr. Smith/ John?Mrs. Smith/ Miss Smith/ Jane?Business Cards?Presentations?

Rorschach Test

-“I’m worried about the older members”-“We’ll be looking at a number of offers”-“The price is rather high”-“There are a few things we’re not happy about”-“This is not what we were expecting!”-“I understand this service is a practical joke!”-“We’re cancelling the contract”

Be a Competent Business Partner for Everybody

Be Yourself!

kbyrne@select-solutions.pl