Conversation is the "spoken interaction between people and involves an exchange of information and ideas". While culture plays a distinctive role in how people conduct conversation, the universal problem with conversation is that words once spoken cannot be reversed. Drawing on my work with senior Indian executives, I have compiled the top 6 tips for Indian executives engaged in cross-border business interactions:
1. Slow Down! We speak English very fast, and this poses a challenge for all our international business associates for whom it's not a first language. Use simple English words, avoid slang and slow down the speed of conversation. After all, the purpose of conversation is to ensure that your business associates understand you!
2. Punctuality: While we speak fast, we are slow to reach our business meetings, both face-to-face and virtual. If we are looking to sell our goods and services at globally competitive prices, we need to be "on time" and not "in time", which is a 15 minute relaxed window.
3. Proud to be an Indian: India has arrived on the world stage, so don't run down your country in your conversation with foreigners. Instead of speaking about the inadequate infrastructure and abject poverty, shift the focus of the conversation to our booming economy, increasing transparency by government bodies and the emerging role of CSR by India Inc.
4. Accept Hospitality: If your host offers you tea / coffee/ snack/ water, take it, thank them and eat it ( or at least pretend to eat it! ). In several countries, including parts of India, refusing hospitality is akin to insulting your host.
5. Be Formal: When in doubt, be formal e.g. dress formally, display formal body language, address people using their full names, use full sentences instead of sms language in written communication, etc. Formal is not offensive in any country but casual can tick off people in most parts of the world.
6. Show Humility: Last but not the least, you will be forgiven several faux-pas if you show respect for your host's culture and display humility while interacting with people. Pay attention to how people behave, the way they dress & interact with each other and the role of religion in their lives. You will notice that simple non-verbal signals like handshakes and eye contact vary substantially from culture to culture, giving subtle clues about power and hierarchy in the corporate world.
Wishing you an enjoyable summer break!
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