International Sales Best Practices
Let’s review one of last month’s tips on getting extreme with clarity to improve your cross-cultural communication skills.
 |
CCCC Tip #2 - Focus on what the other person says with his words, body language, flow of conversation and also what is not said. |
This month’s series takes last month’s tips to get extreme clarity in cross-cultural communication and brings them into an international sales perspective. Remember to download the free calender for an easy reference to all of the 30 Cross-Cultural Communication Challenge Tips on clarity. Get the complete International Sales Best Practices series here.
How does this tie in with international sales best practices?
Cross-Cultural Communication Skills & Sales Best Practices
There are two sides to this. Focusing on the whole communication reminds me of a quote from Jeffrey Gitomer’s Little Red Book Of Sales Answers.
|
|
“Be aware that bosses will often ask gatekeepers what they thought of the salesperson. The gatekeepers thinking will often determine your fate.” – Jeffrey Gitomer |
Of course, this can be true with your international clients too. Some cultures may have different expectations for how you should treat different members of their staff. But they will notice your interaction. In cross-cultural communication:
- Everything you communicate adds to the conversation this includes all aspects of verbal and non-verbal communication
- Your communication with everyone you meet is also important
It is not always easy to know how you should communicate and what is expected of you. Different cultures have different expectations. The only certainty is that your communication counts.
When in doubt there are a few things you can do:
- Prepare your meeting well by researching and asking questions of what is expected
- Ask an experienced person to accompany you and guide you
- Explain your lack of knowledge during the meeting and ask for guidance
- Pay attention to everything you communicate and everything the other person communicates
This is one of the most important tasks in cross-cultural communication. Increase your clarity in communication here and you will also increase your international sales skills.
What Is Your Experience Of This In International Sales?
- Have you ever had a cross-cultural encounter where you did not feel prepared?
- Did you pay attention to all of the conversation, both verbal and non-verbal?
- Did you have the impression that you were not picking up on some important parts of the conversation?
If so, please share your comments below. I’d love to hear your stories!
Want To Get The Cross-Cultural Communication Tips?
Two Cross-Cultural Communication Challenges are currently available:
Get all of the tips from these 30 & 31 day challenges, and learn more about the other planned later this year:
All International Sales Best Practices
You can find the complete list of International Sales Best Practices published to date here:
She is who I turn to when I have questions and you should too"
-- Chris Garrett, co-author of the "Problogger" book
