Welcome

The power of integrity, efficiency, dignity, and elegance in communication and behavior

 “If you want to succeed, you should strike out on new paths,
rather than travel the worn paths of accepted success"
John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937) American oil magnate

To be a part of the “crème de la crème” of today’s internationally competitive business world we must develop, and exceed, business relations based on an accepted code of behavior and communication. Familiarity with this code gives us the ability to manage demanding business situations with confidence, credibility, integrity, and allows our real talents to be recognized and assessed by the people who determine our, or our company’s, prospects in any business dealings.

No matter who we are or what we do our behavior has a direct impact on our professional and social relations. Why do some people seem to move quickly up the corporate ladder while others with equal qualifications are left behind? Often the difference can be attributed to their ability to navigate the do’s and don’ts of increasingly complex business protocols and gain the understanding of how to master the new codes of contemporary international behavior on how to position themselves as credible, knowledgeable, cultured and authoritative. International corporate and business protocol skills are not an option, they are an essential requirement. They allow us to be civil and at ease in any situation, country, or culture, to distinguish ourselves, develop and maintain long-lasting business relationships, strengthen our business presence, project a positive, confident, professional image and reputation.

§  Today’s MBA students are our future leaders and executives. It is they, above all, who must be prepared to manage and succeed in the rapidly changing international business market.

§  We should remember that during economic crises, clients usually do business with those whom they trust and respect rather than starting new business relations or embarking on new business prospects.

 § We now live and work with and next to people from other countries without understanding who they are. Politics, religion, economics, wars, have all been causes for population shifts. Immigration is a serious force with which we have to contend. As we become more cross culturally aware in our business, we can incorporate these skills in our social behavior.

Investing the time to understand the rules by which our competitor, client, guest, foreign visitor, or business associate plays will allow us to focus on the business at hand, ensure a long lasting business relationship with them and earn their preference in future business dealings. They become our ambassadors.

• Define strengths/weaknesses, advantages/disadvantages, in our international strategic planning
• Expand our existing business market in a target country
• Create successful cross cultural negotiations environment
• Improve ethical and profitable business and marketing strategies
• Show proficiency, competence, and credibility with partners from all over the world
• Add value to our organization as a staff member and resource for the company

• Changes and improvements we need or want to make in local operations will be taken seriously by the local staff.
• Sense of security – ignorance is breeding ground for fear and anxiety; awareness, knowledge and skills strengthen our relationship with local staff and they will find it easier to deal with us.
• Until we know their culture, we cannot be sure which behaviors of theirs are mandated by their culture or which are peculiar to them (as they with us).
• We can distinguish individuals within the culture and begin to have personal relationships.

• See the world from a new perspective; unique opportunity for self-improvement; we are not as quick to judge; we are more tolerant; we think more before talking and acting; we give the benefit of the doubt; the ability to see situations, problems, practices from multiple perspectives; thinking outside the box; learn about co-existence; when people know they can change, the world becomes less formidable.
• Re-discover our own culture by comparing with another frame of reference.
• Learn to understand the relationship between adversity and diversity.