What Matters Most For Your Success In Cross-Cultural Business Situations

What Matters Most For Your Success

In Cross-Cultural Business Situations

外籍老板和我说 他不在乎我英语好不好

The other day, a colleague told me that she didn’t tell me something because she didn’t want to offend me. I said, “Why did you think you’re going to offend me? I asked for your thoughts and comments to help me do something better. I even encouraged you to let me know. So whatever you have to say, I’m viewing it as feedback and input, not criticism.”

有一天，一个员工跟我说，她说话有所保留是因为不想得罪我。 我说：“为什么觉得会得罪我呢？我鼓励你们分享自己的想法，是因为我想把事情做到更好，不管你说什么，我都不觉得这是批评，而是对我的反馈。”

I also told her, “Trust me, if I don’t feel comfortable about something you say or do, I’ll let you know. No big deal. I’ll tell you how I feel so you can understand me and the situation better next time!”

我继续说道：“相信我，如果你的言行举止让我觉得不舒服的话，我会很坦白地告诉你的。这样下次再碰到类似的情况，你就能够更好地应对。”

This incident captures the biggest reason why many Chinese professionals don’t perform so well in cross-cultural business situations. You overthink things when dealing with foreigners, like me. You think about things I don’t really care about. Or think I’ll react to something in a way that I wouldn’t. Because you’re overthinking, you’re afraid to engage me. You hold back. You don’t speak out to share your thoughts and ideas with me. You’re passive, when you actually have something to contribute.

这类情况让我想通了为什么很多中国职场人士在跨文化工作环境中都表现平平。很多人在和外国人打交道的时候都想太多了，会担心很多其实外国人一点都不在意的事情。因为顾虑的事情太多，所以才不敢大胆说出自己的想法。你很有才华，但在别人眼里你工作一点都不积极。

It’s not about your English skills

英语水平并不是关键

With China becoming more global and global-caliber in many ways, performing well in cross-cultural business situations is becoming increasingly important. As a recruitment and talent industry professional for 20+ years, I’ve met many people who speak very good English. And many who have done international business for a long time, studied and worked abroad, and taken cross-cultural training courses. But they still can’t perform confidently and effectively in international business situations, so contribute less than what they are capable of to them.

现如今，中国在各方面都变得越来越国际化。在跨文化工作环境中是否能够表现出色，也成为更多人看重的能力。我从事了二十多年猎头及人才发展培训工作，碰到了很多英语讲得特别溜的人，跟外国人共事过很长一段时间，或者在国外留学、工作过，抑或是上过跨文化培训课程。但他们依然没能够游刃有余地应对跨文化环境，他们实际所作出的成绩，远低于自身的能力。

I also know people who have never lived or worked abroad. They haven’t been in many cross-cultural situations before. Yet, they work very well with people from other countries. That’s why I believe cross-cultural training is overrated. While understanding someone’s background, sensibilities, and country help you, they’re not the key to working well with foreigners.

相对的，我也碰到过很多人，之前从没在国外生活过，没有什么跨文化经历，但是依然能够和外国人很好地合作。这就是为什么我觉得跨文化培训的重要性其实被夸大了。了解对方的文化背景、文化禁忌以及国家情况当然是可以帮你更好地了解这个人，但并不是可以跟这个人愉快合作的关键。

If your thoughts and ideas are good,

others will listen carefully

好想法会让你的英语听起来更好

Before going on, I want to say something about English skills. Because for many, it’s an easy excuse for why they can’t communicate with foreigners or handle international business situations well.

在深入跨文化这个话题前，我想再聊聊英语能力的问题。因为很多人觉得自己没办法跟外国人沟通，或者在跨文化工作环境中表现平平的原因是自己英语不好。

For 90% of the people who think their English isn’t good enough, to me, that’s not the case. It’s fine. As a foreigner, I’m not nearly as critical of your English skills as you are. In fact, I don’t care about your grammar, accent, or how slowly you talk. As long as I can understand you and you can understand me, which is usually the case.

那些跟我说自己英语不好的人中有90%在我看来都蛮好的，或者足够好了。因为我其实都没有像你们自己一样对英语水平要求那么高。说实话，我并不在乎你的语法是不是对，口音是不是正，或者你讲话速度是不是太慢。对我来说，我们能够理解对方在说什么就足够了。

What I pay attention to most are your thoughts and ideas. Because we’re both trying to achieve something together. And my Chinese isn’t nearly as good as your English. So you can count on my patience and persistence to listen to and understand what you have to say.

实际上我关注更多的是你的想法。我们在一起工作是因为我们有共同的目标，想要一起做出点成绩。我自己的中文都没你英语说的好呢，所以我会很耐心地听你说话的。

So don’t overthink your English skills. They’re likely already good enough for you to handle the cross-cultural situations you’re in.

所以不要担心你的英文，我觉得已经好到可以应对工作场合了。

It’s how you say things

说话方式是关键

If you still don’t think so, here’s a tip. As important as what you say is how you say things. For instance, the following lines show a lot of humility and self-awareness, and your desire to understand something better.

如果你还是担心自己的英语，那我可以给你几个小建议。你说话的方式跟你想说的话是同样重要的。比如下面几个句子就能体现出你的谦逊以及对自我清晰的认识，表现你想要进行更顺畅的沟通。

• Do you mind if I ask . . .
• I’ve heard before that . . . How true is this?
• I’m not sure if this is correct, but . . .
• Could you please explain to me . . .
• I may be missing something here, but . .
• Could you let me know what you think about . .

I guarantee that you’ll never offend anyone using them. And you’ll be more confident when communicating with people from different backgrounds.

如果你在对话中用上这些句子，你就不会冒犯别人，同样地，你也可以更自信地跟不同文化背景的人沟通。

Key characteristics for success in cross-cultural situation

让你在任何跨文化环境中成功的品质

Far more than your English skills, these three characteristics will help you perform well in any cross-cultural business situation you face.

另外，这里列举了3个能帮你在任何跨文化工作环境中表现出色的重要品质。

Your Sincerity

你的诚意

Sincere people are more genuine, transparent, and easier to work with. I always tell our staff that when you do things, others can tell where you’re coming from. They can tell what kind of person you are. Whether you’re someone who genuinely wants to help them, or is trying your best to do a good job for them. As opposed to someone who’s just looking after yourself, or only cares about what’s best for you.

真诚的人更加坦诚、直率、透明。和他们一起工作更容易，也更愉快。我总是告诉我们的员工，当你工作的时候，别人都可以知道你从哪里来，你是个怎么样的人，你是否真心想帮他们，或者你是否尽了最大努力为他们做好工作。反之，你是否是一个只关心自己的人，或者只在意对你最有利的。

When doing business with people from another country, there are many things you’re not going to know. And many situations you’re not going to be familiar with. Mistakes and misunderstandings will happen.But what motivates others to work things out with you is their feeling that you’re making a sincere effort to do everything you can to do something well.

在与来自另一个国家和文化的人做生意时，有很多事情你并不了解，很多情况你不那么熟悉。这就可能引发工作上的失误和误解。但只要让别人感受到你在真诚地做力所能及的事，并试图把工作完成好，他们就会愿意和你一起解决问题。

Your Professionalism

你的敬业精神

Everyone likes working with highly professional people. They’re viewed as reliable. They have a solid approach to how they do things. And they bring a standard and consistency to the situations they’re in, so are more straightforward and easier to work with.

每个人都喜欢和高度专业的人一起工作，他们都非常可靠，做事很有原则，并能让整个工作环境都有一定的标准和一致性。他们工作更直接，更容易共事。

Highly professional people also don’t give you excuses or long explanations why something didn’t work or wasn’t done well. Instead, they focus on solving problems, coming up with solutions and delivering results. These are what matter to people when facing challenging, international business situations.

高度专业的人从不找借口。他们不会就有些事情没有做成或者犯了错误而给你一大段解释。反之，他们只注重解决问题，并给出最终成果。在有挑战性的国际商务环境中，这些才是最重要的。

Your Value

你的价值

People are more motivated and patient when dealing with others who can deliver benefits and value to them. In a cross-cultural business situation, I don’t care how much you know about American culture or American people. If you’re curious and interested, that’s good enough for us to connect with each other.

说到底，人们在和能给他们带来好处和价值的人打交道时，会更有动力和耐心。在跨文化商务环境中，我不在意你对美国文化或美国人了解多少。如果你是个有好奇心，对工作有热情有兴趣的人，我们就能愉快共事。

Again, business is practical. And international business is especially challenging. Identify ways to help others be more successful and they’re going to try harder to understand you and get along with you. If you don’t have much value to offer others, they’ll make less of an effort.

做生意是非常注重实用性的，跨国商业尤其具有挑战性。所以，如果你能找到帮助那些和你一起工作的人变得更成功的方法，他们也会尽一切努力去理解你，和你相处。如果你不能给他们提供太多的价值，他们就不会付出太多的努力。

Learning the culture and habits of people from another country is fun and interesting. But we can do this when we go out to build our relationship over drinks or dinner together. But if you want to perform well in cross-cultural business situations, more English lessons and cross-cultural training won’t have the biggest impact on this. It’s the sincerity, professionalism and value that you bring to others in these situations.

了解别人的文化或习惯是很有意思的事情。但这种话题比较适合交朋友，可以一起出去喝一杯或吃饭的时候聊一聊。然而，如果你想在国际商业环境中表现出色，市面上的英语课程和跨文化培训课买再多都没什么用。相反，是你的真诚、专业精神和对他人的价值才会帮你取得成功。

Thurday, July-26

7月26日

具有跨文化能力的人越来越受到我们所面对的商业环境和就业市场的青睐。因此，为了解答大家在跨文化国际商务环境中遇到的挑战和疑惑，Larry特别在明天（7月26日）开设了一次Live直播课：

在这次直播课中，你会学到帮助你在跨文化商务环境中表现出色的建议。比如：

■ 四件与外国人共事时，总被高估或误解的事

■ 如何处理并解决你完全不熟悉的状况

■ 三个在国际商务环境中表现出色的必备素质

■ 三件与外国人共事时你不该做的事



Live价格：19.9RMB

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