Cultural Differences In Standard Work Schedules

When conducting international business you need to be aware of cultural differences in how business is carried out in other countries.

One of the first things you should not overlook is that some cultures have a different definition for their standard work week.

Unfortunately, it is not that simple.  The differences in standard work weeks are varied.

There are two advantages to reading further:

• You can easily annoy prospective clients by not respecting their standard work schedules.
• You can get more value out of adjusting the time, or day, or even the week you choose to communicate with your foreign clients.

Different Days Of The Week

Some countries do not have the same work week.  Monday through Friday is common in English speaking countries.

In Muslim-majority countries the legal work week in the Middle East is not the same as many other countries.

• It is Saturday through Wednesday in Algeria and Saudi Arabia, so their weekend is Thursday and Friday.
• It is Saturday through Thursday in Iran so their weekend is Friday (however, many government offices and private companies are closed on Thursdays)
• It is Sunday through Thursday in Egypt, Syria, United Arab Emirates so their weekend is Friday Saturday

Shorter Work Week

Fridays are not always a good time to schedule international telephone conferences.  In some countries employees traditionally work an hour or a half day less on Fridays.  The time difference between participants can create bad feelings, or low attendance.

The American state of Utah , state employees started following a “TGIT” experiment earlier this year. As in: “Thank God It’s Thursday.”

In a yearlong experiment aimed at reducing the state’s energy costs and commuters’ gasoline expenses, Utah is about to become the first state to switch to a four-day workweek for thousands of government employees.

They will put in 10-hour days, Monday through Thursday, and have Fridays off, freeing them to golf, shop, spend time with the kids or do anything else that strikes their fancy. They will get paid the same as before.

Government Employees And Local Customs

The example above is about state employees.

In many countries government employees work slightly different work weeks compared to people in the business sectors.  And the professional categories of “government employees” is not the same in every country.

Some countries have very strict laws about working on the weekend, where everything is closed.

Lighter Work Months

And don’t forget cultural differences on when people traditionally take their annual vacations.  In France many people take their annual vacation in August.

In a not so distant past, business in Paris was considered as coming to a total standstill in August every year.  Although this is not 100% true across all industries today, you still need to factor this in. And driving in Paris in August is still different than the rest of the year.

And there are also countries where the work schedule is influenced by religious events over several weeks in a year.

Develop Your Basic International Skills

Of course the list above can be useful.

But do not rely solely on this list, or any other list you may find, when planning your calendars. It is always best to ask the people concerned yourself.

In fact, the key to this article is something else.

It is important to develop your international awareness to different lifestyles and different business environments.

Imagine if you want to develop your client relationships with someone whose weekend is different than yours.

• How would he feel if you called him on his weekend?
• How would he feel if you called him during his work week, but it was your weekend?

You can symbolically meet your client on his ground, by going out of your way to call him on his day at work and your day off.

Many delays happen in international business development simply because business are unaware of the local work week schedule.

Imagine if you need something important from someone minutes before the end of his work week or the beginning of his month long vacation?

• Is it a good idea to schedule an important cold call on September 1st to someone who has probably been out of the office most of August or who is trying to catch up with colleagues for the first time in a month?

As you become familiar with different work habits you will begin to acquire basic international business skills.

Respect for differences in standard work schedules is one of the first steps. This respect also leads to maintaining an open mind and the flexibility to deal with different business environments.

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Protected: Here Is Your Mind Map - What Is Culture?

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Mind Map - What Is Culture?

Mind maps are often helpful in grasping concepts and ideas quickly.

This “What is culture?” Mind Map is the first in a series of Mind Maps for Get International Clients Newsletter subscribers.

Not only does this What Is Culture? Mind Map answer the question, but it also shows you how culture influences how you need to sell to your foreign markets.

This Mind Map will be published on this website on Thursday…

This is just a glimpse of the Mind Map, to get a full sized version, it is easy…

…simply, sign up for the Get International Clients Newsletter below.

Remember, the Get International Clients Newsletter is…

… absolutely free.

The weekly newsletter is delivered into your email inbox every Sunday evening.

The Get International Clients Newsletter is a simple action plan to help businesses develop their international markets. It guides you through all 8 steps of the International Sales Road Map.

What’s the International Sales Road Map?

It is the process for the same International Sales Road Map here on the Get International Clients website… The 8 color-coded steps with Business Guides you see on the home page. There are also the 8 color-coded quick navigation buttons on the home page sidebar and at the bottom of each post.

Except the weekly newsletter gives you…

…action steps.

The weekly newsletter puts the pieces of the puzzle in place for you.

Each week you get a new action step that leads you further towards an international business.
You start from the beginning. And step-by-step you build up your international expertise.

You can spend 15 minutes, or an hour, or several hours a week on these action steps. The pace is up to you.

It is also for any small to mid-sized business that wants to expand into foreign markets…

…no matter how many international clients you already have
…no matter what products or services you are selling

You see, the weekly newsletter trains you in establishing a process for your international business development.

This is why it is a sequential newsletter. Everyone starts with the first newsletter when they sign up, not matter when they sign up.

Occasionally during the week I also send the Get International Clients Newsletter subscribers other useful bits of information to all the newsletter subscribers.

Just like this What Is Culture? Mind Map.

This keeps the fun in international business development, and also keeps you up-to-date.

By the way, if you read this long after this was posted, you can still get the link and the password of the What Is Culture? Mind Map if you subscribe to the weekly newsletter.
The link will be added to the first newsletter you receive.

Sign up below the Get International Clients Newsletter and start your International Sales Road Map:

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Cross Cultural Web Tools For High Collectivism Cultural Behaviors

Last updated 16 August 2008

There are 5 different scales of cultural behavioral traits.

• High Individualism versus High Collectivism Behavior
• Uncertainty Avoidance versus Low Uncertainty Avoidance Behavior
• High Power Distance versus Low Power Distance Behavior
• High Masculinity versus High Femininity Behavior
• High Context versus Low Context Behavior

Important: Read the Basic Guidelines For Using Cross Cultural Communication Web Tools before implementing any of these web tools.

Today we are only going to look at the web tools for the high collectivism behavior trait. This is part of the high collectivism versus high individualism behavior scale.

Traits Of High Collectivism Cultures

Some cultures are described as being high on the scale of collectivism . These cultures have strong beliefs in:

• Group goals

This is opposed to the other end of this scale, cultures high on the scale of individualism, which have strong beliefs in:

• Personal goals

Cross Cultural Web Tools For High Collectivism Cultures

There is more than one cross cultural communication web tool you can use to appeal to each of the different cultural behavioral traits.

Here are the web tools you can use on your website to communicate better with cultures who score high on the behavioral scale of collectivism:

When You Need A Community For Your Website

When A Family Theme Works On Your Website

Where To Put National References On Your Website For Maximum Results

How A Newsletter Works In Different Cultures

When To Have A Local Blogroll

Where Loyalty Programs Work Best On Your Website

These web tools respond well to the traits for cultures high on the collectivism scale. Read more details for each of these web tools in the articles in the Web Tools For Cultural Communication Guide.

There is lots more on the different cultural behaviors in the June issues of the Get International Clients Weekly Newsletter. Sign up quickly for more tips and ideas for getting more out of your international marketing.

Important Notice

Basic Guidelines For Using This Web Tool

If you have not read the Basic Guidelines For Using Cross Cultural Communication Web Tools as mentioned in the very beginning of this article, please do so before implementing any of these web tools.

You need to look at the whole picture of all five cultural behaviors before tweaking how you use the specific web tools outlined here.

Use these cross cultural web tools to inspire you to improve your web communication with your international clients.

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Cross Cultural Web Tools For Low Context Cultural Behaviors

Last updated 16 August 2008

There are 5 different scales of cultural behavioral traits.

• High Individualism versus High Collectivism Behavior
• Uncertainty Avoidance versus Low Uncertainty Avoidance Behavior
• High Power Distance versus Low Power Distance Behavior
• High Masculinity versus High Femininity Behavior
• High Context versus Low Context Behavior

Important: Read the Basic Guidelines For Using Cross Cultural Communication Web Tools before implementing any of these web tools.

Today we are only going to look at the web tools for the low context communication behavior trait. This is part of the high versus low context behavior scale.

Traits Of Cultures Low Context Communication

Some cultures are described as being low on the scale of context communication. These cultures communicate in a style where communication is:

• Direct
• Straightforward
• Detailed
• Without ambiguity

Cross Cultural Web Tools For Low Context Communication

There is more than one cross cultural communication web tool you can use to appeal to each of the different cultural behavioral traits.

Here are the web tools you can use on your website to communicate better with cultures who score low on the behavioral scale of context communication:

Where A Hard Sell Approach Works Best

When To Highlight Company Prestige On Your Website

When Superlatives Can Get You More Sales

Create A Better Communication On Your Website With Your Guarantee

These web tools respond well to the traits for cultures low on the context communication scale.

There is lots more on the different cultural behaviors in the June issues of the Get International Clients Weekly Newsletter. Sign up quickly for more tips and ideas for getting more out of your international marketing.

Important Notice

Basic Guidelines For Using This Web Tool

If you have not read the Basic Guidelines For Using Cross Cultural Communication Web Tools as mentioned in the very beginning of this article, please do so before implementing any of these web tools.

You need to look at the whole picture of all five cultural behaviors before tweaking how you use the specific web tools outlined here.

Use these cross cultural web tools to inspire you to improve your web communication with your international clients.

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Cross Cultural Web Tools For Countries With Low Power Distance Cultural Behaviors

Last updated 16 August 2008

There are 5 different scales of cultural behavioral traits.

• High Individualism versus High Collectivism Behavior
• Uncertainty Avoidance versus Low Uncertainty Avoidance Behavior
• High Power Distance versus Low Power Distance Behavior
• High Masculinity versus High Femininity Behavior
• High Context versus Low Context Behavior

Important: Read the Basic Guidelines For Using Cross Cultural Communication Web Tools before implementing any of these web tools.

Today we are only going to look at the web tools for the low end of the power distance behaviors. This is part of the high versus low power distance behavior scale.

Traits Of Cultures Low In Power Distance

Some cultures are described as being low on the power distance scale and are compared to cultures at the other end of the scale with a high score in power distance traits. These cultures low on the power distance scale believe:

• Power should be distributed

They do not have a strong belief in

• Authority
• Hierarchy

Cross Cultural Web Tools For Low Power Distance Cultures

This one is easy. You do not need to do anything in particular.There are no specific web tools for cultures with low uncertainty power distance traits.

This means that you do not need to emphasize any web tools for this behavioral trait.

You simply concentrate on the web tools recommended in the other cultural behavior traits.

There is lots more on the different cultural behaviors in the June issues of the Get International Clients Weekly Newsletter. Sign up quickly for more tips and ideas for getting more out of your international marketing.

Important Notice

Basic Guidelines For Using This Web Tool

If you have not read the Basic Guidelines For Using Cross Cultural Communication Web Tools as mentioned in the very beginning of this article, please do so before implementing any of these web tools.

You need to look at the whole picture of all five cultural behaviors before tweaking how you use the specific web tools outlined here.

Use these cross cultural web tools to inspire you to improve your web communication with your international clients.

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Cross Cultural Web Tools For Countries With Low Uncertainty Avoidance Cultural Behaviors

Last updated 16 August 2008

There are 5 different scales of cultural behavioral traits.

• High Individualism versus High Collectivism Behavior
• Uncertainty Avoidance versus Low Uncertainty Avoidance Behavior
• High Power Distance versus Low Power Distance Behavior
• High Masculinity versus High Femininity Behavior
• High Context versus Low Context Behavior

Important: Read the Basic Guidelines For Using Cross Cultural Communication Web Tools before implementing any of these web tools.

Today we are only going to look at the web tools for the low end of the uncertainty avoidance behaviors. This is part of the high versus low uncertainty avoidance behavior scale.

Traits Of Cultures Low In Uncertainty Avoidance

Some cultures are described as being low on a scale of uncertainty avoidance and are compared to cultures at the other end of the scale with a high score in uncertainty avoidance traits.

The cultures low in uncertainty avoidance show:

• More willingness for risk taking
• More openness towards ambiguity
• A tendency towards the use of less structure in their lives

This is in comparison to cultures with a high score in uncertainty avoidance behavior traits.

Cross Cultural Web Tools For Low Uncertainty Avoidance Cultures

This one is easy. You do not need to do anything in particular.

There are no specific web tools for cultures with low uncertainty avoidance behavior traits.

This means that you do not need to emphasize any web tools for this behavioral trait.

You simply concentrate on the web tools recommended in the other cultural behavior traits.

There is lots more on the different cultural behaviors in the June issues of the Get International Clients Weekly Newsletter. Sign up quickly for more tips and ideas for getting more out of your international marketing.

Important Notice

Basic Guidelines For Using This Web Tool

If you have not read the Basic Guidelines For Using Cross Cultural Communication Web Tools as mentioned in the very beginning of this article, please do so before implementing any of these web tools.

You need to look at the whole picture of all five cultural behaviors before tweaking how you use the specific web tools outlined here.

Use these cross cultural web tools to inspire you to improve your web communication with your international clients.

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Cross Cultural Web Tools For Countries With High Masculinity Cultural Behaviors

Last updated 16 August 2008

There are 5 different scales of cultural behavioral traits.

• High Individualism versus High Collectivism Behavior
• Uncertainty Avoidance versus Low Uncertainty Avoidance Behavior
• High Power Distance versus Low Power Distance Behavior
• High Masculinity versus High Femininity Behavior
• High Context versus Low Context Behavior

Important: Read the Basic Guidelines For Using Cross Cultural Communication Web Tools before implementing any of these web tools.

Today we are only going to look at all of the web tools for the high end of the masculinity behaviors. This is part of the masculinity versus femininity scale.

Traits Of Cultures High In Masculinity

Some cultures are described as being high on a scale of masculinity and are compared to cultures at the other end of the scale which are high in femininity. The cultures high in masculinity are stimulated more with:

• Ambition
• Achievement
• Assertiveness

Cross Cultural Web Tools For High Masculinity Cultures

There is more than one cross cultural communication web tool you can use to appeal to each of the different cultural behavioral traits.

Here are all of the web tools you can use on your website to communicate better with cultures who score high on the behavioral scale of masculinity.

When To Toot Your Product Quality More

The Cultures Where You Need To Get To The Point Fast

When To Convey Strong Gender Roles On Your Website

How To Use Games And Quizzes To Improve Your Website

These four web tools respond well to the traits for cultures high on the cultural behavioral masculinity scale.

There is lots more on the different cultural behaviors in the June issues of the Get International Clients Weekly Newsletter. Sign up quickly for more tips and ideas for getting more out of your international marketing.

Important Notice

Basic Guidelines For Using This Web Tool

If you have not read the Basic Guidelines For Using Cross Cultural Communication Web Tools as mentioned in the very beginning of this article, please do so before implementing any of these web tools.

You need to look at the whole picture of all five cultural behaviors before tweaking how you use the specific web tools outlined here.

Use these cross cultural web tools to inspire you to improve your web communication with your international clients.

Rate this:

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Cross Cultural Web Tools For Countries With High Individualism Cultural Behaviors

Last updated 16 August 2008

There are 5 different scales of cultural behavioral traits.

• High Individualism versus High Collectivism Behavior
• Uncertainty Avoidance versus Low Uncertainty Avoidance Behavior
• High Power Distance versus Low Power Distance Behavior
• High Masculinity versus High Femininity Behavior
• High Context versus Low Context Behavior

Important: Read the Basic Guidelines For Using Cross Cultural Communication Web Tools before implementing any of these web tools.

Today we are only going to look at the web tools for the high individualism behavior trait. This is part of the high individualism versus high collectivism behavior scale.

Traits Of High Individualism Cultures

Some cultures are described as being high on the scale of individualism. These cultures have strong beliefs in:

• Personal goals

This is opposed to the other end of this scale, cultures high on the scale of collectivism, which have strong beliefs in:

• Group goals

Cross Cultural Web Tools For High Individualism Cultures

There is more than one cross cultural communication web tool you can use to appeal to each of the different cultural behavioral traits.

Here are the web tools you can use on your website to communicate better with cultures who score high on the behavioral scale of individualism:

How Personalization Helps To Sell Across Culture

When To Use Themes Of Independence In Your Web Communication

Where To Use Your Privacy Policy For Better Online Business Results

The Place For Your USP On Your Website

These 4 web tools respond well to the traits for cultures high on the individualism scale. Read more details for each of these web tools in the articles in the Web Tools For Cultural Communication Guide.

There is lots more on the different cultural behaviors in the June issues of the Get International Clients Weekly Newsletter. Sign up quickly for more tips and ideas for getting more out of your international marketing.

Important Notice

Basic Guidelines For Using This Web Tool

If you have not read the Basic Guidelines For Using Cross Cultural Communication Web Tools as mentioned in the very beginning of this article, please do so before implementing any of these web tools.

You need to look at the whole picture of all five cultural behaviors before tweaking how you use the specific web tools outlined here.

Use these cross cultural web tools to inspire you to improve your web communication with your international clients.

Rate this:

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Cross Cultural Web Tools For Countries With High Context Cultural Behaviors

Last updated 16 August 2008

There are 5 different scales of cultural behavioral traits.

• High Individualism versus High Collectivism Behavior
• Uncertainty Avoidance versus Low Uncertainty Avoidance Behavior
• High Power Distance versus Low Power Distance Behavior
• High Masculinity versus High Femininity Behavior
• High Context versus Low Context Behavior

Important: Read the Basic Guidelines For Using Cross Cultural Communication Web Tools before implementing any of these web tools.

Today we are only going to look at the web tools for the high context communication behavior trait. This is part of the high versus low context behavior scale.

Traits Of Cultures High Context Communication

Some cultures are described as being high on the context communication scale. These cultures communicate in a style where:

• Key communication is relayed in the context, not only in the words.
• Communication is internalized

Cross Cultural Web Tools For High Context Communication

There is more than one cross cultural communication web tool you can use to appeal to each of the different cultural behavioral traits.

Here are the web tools you can use on your website to communicate better with cultures who score high on the behavioral scale of context communication:

Where Soft Selling Gets You More

When Indirect Communication Is Best

How Visual Harmony On Your Website Gets You More International Sales

These 3 web tools respond well to the traits for cultures high on the context communication scale.

There is lots more on the different cultural behaviors in the June issues of the Get International Clients Weekly Newsletter. Sign up quickly for more tips and ideas for getting more out of your international marketing.

Important Notice

Basic Guidelines For Using This Web Tool

If you have not read the Basic Guidelines For Using Cross Cultural Communication Web Tools as mentioned in the very beginning of this article, please do so before implementing any of these web tools.

You need to look at the whole picture of all five cultural behaviors before tweaking how you use the specific web tools outlined here.

Use these cross cultural web tools to inspire you to improve your web communication with your international clients.

Rate this:

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