Meeting persons from different cultures can be stressful and confusing. Because we usually are not familiar with their responses, choices, and verbal and non-verbal cues—which typically are different from our own—we, as well as others unfamiliar with their cultures, struggle to interpret their meanings and intentions. The atmosphere in casual and formal meetings can seem like a different world, as most of the persons present hear, smell, see and sense things that seem strange and unpredictable. However, in today’s global world of business, these strange individuals and groups of people are our clients, suppliers, employees, officials and shareholders.
To grow and maintain a position of strength in our constantly changing, culturally-diverse and increasingly global world of business, international business managers must embrace this new reality, develop management skills needed in our global economy and expand their vision to foreign lands to increase market opportunities and gain access to rich talent pools and limited resources. Even as the pace at which businesses are entering global marketplaces continues to increase, companies that focus solely on domestic markets are confronting the reality that they must adapt to serve the unmet needs of new domestic markets and labor pools that are culturally and linguistically diverse. Consequently, while many of today’s managers may never leave the United States, they still must master the management skills needed in our global economy. These are the skills necessary to acknowledge, interpret and respond to non-English speakers and people of different cultures. Having multicultural and multilingual skills and relationships with Houston translation services companies positions managers to be more successful when confronted with today’s challenges and opportunities and to be more competitive in the global business world.
What do these changes and trends mean to today’s business leaders? With more and more businesses increasingly researching and seeking opportunity in foreign markets, business leaders must evolve and develop multinational mindsets that enable them to develop international outlooks and strategies. As a result, managers must acquire skills in international management and become knowledgeable of international cultures and trends.