How Can I Prepare For My First Cross-Cultural Negotiation?
September 22, 2008 by 
cindy
Quick answers to…
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This is part of a series to answer the questions readers leave on my blog and business directory.
If you have a question you would like to have answered, related to international business development, cross-cultural marketing or international sales communication, simply leave a comment here below and I will get back to you.
Today’s question is:
What advice can you give me to prepare for my first cross cultural negotiation?
Of course, it is important to go into your negotiation with the right mindset.
- Open your own cultural responses up to meet another culture.
But do not be so focused on the cross-cultural aspect of your negotiation so much that you forget your basic preparation.
Like all negotiations, preparation is important.
You need to know exactly:
- Where you stand in your negotiation process,
- What your aims are,
- What exactly is on the table,
- …and what is not.
Prior preparation can also be critical if there are any cross-cultural communication differences.
When you know the extent to which you can negotiate and are fully prepared, you will be able to pace yourself if there are any differences.
So, how do you prepare for your first cross-cultural negotiation?
You need to prepare both the broad outlines and key details.
Most people remember to prepare for the key details. After all, these are important to the negotiation process. You know what details you need.
You should also ask yourself if there are other details that might be important from another cultural perspective. But don’t get too caught up in this. Blunders do not usually happen due to lack of preparation here.
They can happen if you forget to prepare..
Your broad outlines too.
This is where your own natural assumptions might lead you to miss something.
Here are a few questions to brainstorm:
- Why are you there in the first place?
- What is the one thing you want to get out of this negotiation?
- What are your limits?
Knowing your limits and the broad outlines will help you to navigate any cultural differences more effectively should you find that you are not on the same boat.
Winging it rarely works in cross-cultural negotiations. You must stay focused. Your basic preparation is essential.
With regards to other cross-cultural aspect, a few key questions to the right person prior to your meeting is all you need before the meeting.
You will also be interested in reading what to do during your meeting:
This is part of the…
Cross-Cultural Negotiation Business Guide
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Cross-Cultural Negotiation Guide• Would you like an easy guide to keep you away from the big first time blunders? |
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Guide 7 - Run With Your International Sales Strategy• Do you need help setting up your international sales strategy? |
| 3.2 |
Guide 7 - Run With Your International Sales Strategy
August 2, 2008 by cindy
Last updated 24 November 2008
In This Core Business Guide 7:
Step 1 - Adapt Your Sales Pitch Across Cultures
- Preparation For International Sales
- How To Address Cultural Differences In Expectations
- Quality Questions For Better International Business Development
- Cross-Culture Sales
Step 2 - Close Your International Sales
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Adapt Your Sales Across Cultures |
International Sales
Preparation For International Sales
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Preparation For International Sales• Are you finding cross-cultural sales a little difficult? |
Start Your International Sales Guide
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How To Address Cultural Differences In Expectations• Are you addressing all of your international client’s needs and meeting his expectations? |
Get Focused For Your International Sales Guide
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Quality Questions For Better International Business Development• Are you getting the answers you need to build your international business? |
Business Guide - Cross-Culture Sales
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Cross-Culture Sales• Are you finding cross-cultural sales a little difficult? |
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Close Your International Sales |
Develop Good International Negotiation Skills
As you gain exposure to international clients, you will develop your international negotiation skills:
Business Guide - Cross-Cultural Negotiation
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Cross-Cultural Negotiation• Would you like an easy guide to keep you away from the big first time blunders? |
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Create Your International Sales Funnel |
International Lead Generation
With the right marketing mix you can create an online lead generation machine.
Business Guide - International Lead Generation
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International Lead Generation• How can your international marketing bring in sales?The answer is here. |
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Get More Sales |
Sell Without Toil
If you really feel overwhelmed and do not want to make that first step there are other solutions:
More Options To Develop Internationally
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More Options To Develop Internationally• Do you know your international market inside out? |
Where Clarity Strengthens Your International Sales
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Where Clarity Strengthens Your International Sales• How can you add more clarity to your international sales strategy? |
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Bonus For Action Guide Subscribers
Get International Clients Action Guide readers get free special bonuses each month with their weekly email subscription.
More From Cindy
Interested in reading more on my personal opinions and experiences on how to connect with international markets?
My Blog On Copywriting For International Markets - CindyKing.biz
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Even More Resources
Recommended Resource - Export.gov
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US Resource On Export• Have a look at this resource, even if you do not want to export and import with the American market. |
Next Step
Core Business Guide 8 - Improve Your International Development Plan
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Improve Your International Development Plan• How can you improve your results? |
Need Help?
Need instructions?
Need to see where this fits in?
Still confused? Review your answers in the first Core Business Guide
Simply click on one of the 8 different color coded boxes immediately below to access other core business guides.
| 3.2 |
Cross-Cultural Negotiation Guide
July 23, 2008 by cindy
Last updated 24 September 2008
Good cross cultural communication are important for successful international business development. The good news is they are acquired through practice.
But sometimes your international business expansion gets ahead of your international negotiation skills.
Emergency Guideline For Your First Cross Cultural Negotiations
If you have not had the experience in cross cultural negotiation here is a good guideline to help you start:
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Your Guideline For
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Cross Cultural Negotiations
And here are a few other articles for beginners in international negotiation:
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How Can I Prepare
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The Right Mindset For
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The Most Important Tip For
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Start Your
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Non-Verbal Differences
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What Is The Biggest Barrier
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Phone Negotiations |
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When International Phone Negotiations Go Bad |
Cross Cultural Communication
If you are interested in cross cultural negotiations, read the Get International Clients Business Guide on Cross Cultural Communication to improve your skills:
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Cross Cultural Communication |
More From Cindy
Interested in reading more on my personal opinions and experiences on how to connect with international markets?
My Blog On Copywriting For International Markets - CindyKing.biz
|
Read The Whole Story
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This is part of the Core Business Guide 6 Run Your International Sales Strategy Be sure to check out the other elements you need to run your international sales strategy |
Need Help?
Need instructions?
Need to see where this fits in?
Still confused? Review your answers in the first Core Business Guide
Simply click on one of the 8 different color coded boxes immediately below to access other core business guides.
| 3.2 |
The Right Mindset For International Negotiations
April 15, 2008 by cindy
Entering international negotiations with the right mindset, or attitude, is almost just as important as being thoroughly prepared.
Sales people new to international negotiations often have the wrong definition for the right international mindset needed. They tend to identify the right mindset more with a superficial way of presenting themselves.
The Personal Reorientation Within
The right mindset involves a change on a deeper, more personal level. It means: Read more
The Most Important Tip For International Sales Negotiations
April 8, 2008 by cindy
If you start looking for advice on international sales negotiations, you may end up getting more than you need. And you might not know which advice to follow.
There are people who call themselves multicultural or attribute themselves with an international expertise, without having the necessary experience to give you advice on cross cultural negotiations. There are also people who live in foreign countries for years without acquiring any real multicultural expertise at all. So called “bilingual” skills often represent wide variations in language skills.
Everyone has there own point of view, and success formulas based on their own experience. And when we are faced with several different bits of advice, we often chose the easiest option.
As a North American International Sales & Marketing professional in Europe for over 20 years I have had years of field experience in negotiation between North Americans and Europeans. And I’ve received my fair share of advice. I’d like to share with you the most important advice Read more
Non-Verbal Differences North American Women Need To Be Aware Of In European Negotiations
February 16, 2008 by cindy
International sales negotiations need to be prepared. Cross cultural communication is mined with potential blunders. And if you are a woman, you need to pay attention to other details as well.
Here are a few more tips specifically for North American women in sales negotiations with Europeans: Read more
Your Guideline For Successful First Time Cross Cultural Negotiations In Any Culture
February 6, 2008 by cindy
Do you have an international sales negotiation coming up? Are you nervous about how it will go?
Most people don’t give much thought to the actual cross cultural communication process prior to their first real cross cultural negotiation. They get obsessed with secondary details.
Cross Cultural Negotiation Skills
Imagine you are in a long line of people waiting for a taxi at the busy Paris airport. With people swarming everywhere. The noise of the street traffic competing with the noise from the airplanes in the background.
And then you hear such a large commotion, right up at the front of your taxi line. You think it is yet another bomb scare and crane your neck to get a closer look with your bags in your hands ready to move. But out of the confusion you hear laughter.
What happened? Read more
