Mastering Western and International Business Etiquette

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You've just landed a meeting with those overseas clients you've been courting for two years. Your proposal is polished and so are your shoes. But what to wear - and how to act? Should you bow when you enter the room (like they do in the movies) or should you shake hands? Time is short and you don't want to offend. Where can you go to learn the proper etiquette you need to conduct business abroad? Does the success of your trip really depend on how well you know the customs and etiquette of the country you'll be visiting?

Yes!" says international business consultant and etiquette expert Grace Lee. "When you're aware of the social graces and cultural protocol of the country where you'll be doing business, you create a positive first impression." Not only that, she adds, but you'll know when someone is trying to manipulate you. "If they're less than honest, you'll spot it immediately." Lee says that venturing into the global business arena demands learning a set of customs in each part of the world that governs selling style. Mastering these social skills puts overseas colleagues and clients at ease and makes them trust you immediately. "It can spell the difference between making a bad first impression and winning a new customer," Lee adds. "When you're confident you know the social graces of the country or culture where you're doing business, you've opened the door to success."

So often, says Lee, we don't see ourselves as others see us. "In America, everything is big -- roads, food, houses. We think big and have a big style. That's how the rest of the world perceives us." Standing back and gaining this kind of perspective allows us to spot the difference between our mindset and that of other cultures. It makes us open to other customs and points of view -- a must when negotiating complex business deals abroad.

Lee was running a successful international import-export firm when she realized the need for business travelers to learn cross-cultural etiquette and social graces. To her surprise, hardly anyone was teaching these skills, so she expanded her company to include workshops that teach the cultural protocol so crucial to success in this global economy. Her popular workshop, Mastering International Business Etiquette, shows how to bridge the U.S.-Asian cultural gap with perfect etiquette that makes foreign officials smile and say “yes.” These workshops unlock the mysteries of business practices and protocol in other countries and can be customized to a company's needs. Participants learn:

1. Social do's and don'ts for any country
2. Power entrances and exits
3. Appropriate greetings and ways to sit and stand
4. Office etiquette
5. Public etiquette
6. Dynamic yet respectful personal style
7. Restaurant etiquette and table manners
8. Public speaking techniques
9. International principles of selling that work in any country

"Mastering Western and international business etiquette gives you the edge over competitors and boosts your bottom line," says Lee, who adds that Western social graces are fast becoming the universal code of business conduct. "Americans can lead the way, both here and abroad," she adds. "When you master Western etiquette, it not only brings integrity and respect to clients in other countries, but it can increase your business at home because everyone appreciates being treated with respect."

But while doing business in today's global economy demands skill in both Western and international social graces, few people have time to research the customs and cultural climate of the countries where they do business. Lee's business etiquette training programs and workshops solve that problem, providing the cultural awareness that spells the difference between gaining new overseas clients or losing out to competitors more savvy about local customs and demands. Her training programs help clients master both Western and international social skills.

"Mastering the customs of the country you're in gives you the edge over competitors when you're fighting for a lucrative contract or sale," she points out, "and it boosts your confidence because you know you'll steer clear of social faux pas and disasters! There's nothing that creates a fast track to success better than knowing how to treat your foreign colleagues with kindness and respect."