Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Understanding cultures in the business world

Today we live in a world of billions of people. They are all from different countries, different backgrounds and yet we still belong to one world.

People immigrate to other countries in hope to achieve something greater that couldn't be achieved in their home country. They bring with them, experiences of their country, their culture and their language.

How many times have you seen two people talking to each other understanding every single word, and you on the other hand, never even heard that word before. It has happened to all of us, and why shouldn't it? This world is a divers ed world. Not just human beings, but look at animals. African elephants look different that South Asian elephants.

Success in business comes from knowing what your fellow co-workers or partners appreciate and value. You have to incorporate that and then melt in with their point of view and Addia little touch to it.

It doesn't mean that you don't value your own opinions. Just that sometimes things will not go your way and others will get what they want.

You have to understand the fact that what is important to you, might not be as important to someone else. Music might be something that you listen to for some relaxation, whereas for a musician, music is their life.

Some tips to easily adjust to new environments and accept new cultures is:

- Don't assume that you know everything about other's culture, because there are always some rumors and misconceptions.
- Don't make fun of other's feelings and point of view, because for them what they are saying is absolutely right.
- Appreciate others culture and religion.
- If you are non-religious then don't make fun of other religions.

If you follow the tips above, you shouldn't have that much of a problem adjusting to new cultures.

For business owners, it is important to find out about the most dominant culture in their neighborhood. A restaurant serving Italian food in the middle of a Chinatown is not going to do as well as an Indian Restaurant near a neighborhood with lots of Indians.

A lot of businesses fail due to the lack of knowledge of what people want. Business is all about selling what people want, and what people want depends on their needs, which vary.

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