Many people don’t usually remember the name of the person they’ve just met, sometimes it just clicks, but sometimes it might take a while. Still, there is always an opinion we form the very first moment we meet someone and that factor quite often defines the further development of this new relationship.
It is important for us to make a good impression basically every time we walk out of the house; at school, at work, in a club or a grocery store, but there is an occasion when we all try to bring our A-game, and that is when we meet our new potential business partners, especially international business partners.
This is the time to shine in both representing ourselves and our culture, and at the same time showing respect to our partner across the table, their culture, and customs. Here are some tips that might contribute to the success of your negotiations.
Look good
Many entrepreneurs that it’s not how you look like but what you have to say that really matters, but when we talk about leaving a good first impression then every single detail comes into play.
You don’t want to look too silly or casual which might seem disrespectful, but you also need to avoid looking like a robot in a suit with no charisma whatsoever.
The truth is somewhere in the middle, and probably the best solution is to suit up and give out a genuine professional vibe.
A professional, dark suit is something that is widely accepted in any part of the world, and you can’t go wrong or risk raising eyebrows. You would certainly look nice, confident and elegant.
Give a warm welcome
How you welcome someone is the first sign of how this relationship is going to work out. You need to treat your partners the way you would like them to treat you.
They wouldn’t normally expect you to wait for them at the airport, you can opt for a cab or a shuttle to get them to the meeting place, but what if there is a third option?
No matter how traditional or conservative your international partner might seem, no person would say no to a small dose of luxury in their life, especially when they are your guests.
You can hire a limo to wait for them at the airport, which would definitively cement a great first impression and basically blow their mind, they would not just get a comfortable ride to the desired destination, but they would also look and feel awesome and important.
This is sort of a great ‘’appetizer’’ for your upcoming talks and a token of respect and a great display of how much your partners mean to you.
Business is pleasure
Business talk is always formal and serious, still, it wouldn’t be wrong to spice things up a bit and refresh strenuous talks by introducing refreshment in shape of food and drinks.
It is both healthy and fun, and it would do well for the final outcome to break monotonous business negotiation every now and then just to remind yourself and your partners that you are all human and you all like to have fun and relax.
If all goes well, and if you follow these steps it definitely will, you should throw a party or go out to a fancy dinner to celebrate a successful closing of a deal. It is great for everyone to just relax with a couple of drinks after a hard-working day and tiring business dialogue.
You are going to get to know your colleagues on a personal level and further strengthen your bond to lay a strong foundation for future relationship and cooperation.
Conclusion
Whatever you choose to do, and however you decide to impress your international business partners you should always bear in mind that they are coming from a different culture with certain similarities and differences to yours.
Giving your partners gifts might be considered bribery in certain parts of the world, also some cultures might find humor to be insulting if implemented into the serious business talk. Sometimes there is even a certain dress code that needs to be honored, etc.
What most people find sorely inconvenient is interrupting your current meeting to answer incoming phone calls or social network messages. This trend is slowly giving in, but texting someone during a meeting is still considered rather unprofessional.
Being yourself while maintaining a decent level of manners and respect, while being clear and professional about your presentation will score you a lot of points with every business partner in the world.
