A step towards the unknown

In a few days I will be landing in the land of business opportunities. A country, which is nowadays discussed pretty often in the news, but for me, is still unexplored.I can forecast in advance that in order to avoid misunderstandings while being there, spending some time studying the Chinese cultural and social values is from my point of view crucial when considering doing business with the Chinese community.

I also suppose that having a reference in China appears to be essential when trying to do business there. This is linked to the aforementioned point. Since we are not experts, having some locals who can guide us as well as introduce us in the market more easily and efficiently is also something that I think is important.

It would also be interesting to adjust to the Chinese tastes when trying to sell a product or a service. I think it is important to contextualise. Even though some products may be sold pretty easily in Europe or in the United States, it is far from clear whether they will do it in China.  So, maybe when doing business there one should adapt their products or services to the culture, history and tastes of the Chinese society.

Trust should also be taken into account when doing business. Working on relationships is an important aspect if you want your business outcome to be positive. It may take time and sometimes money but if you are not keen on building a trustworthy and long-term business relationship it is far from clear whether you will actually end up succeeding.

I also believe that they are based on a rather hierarchical society due to Confucianism. The treatment may vary depending on your age, education and position. Therefore, I am expecting to find preferential treatment depending on the characteristics mentioned above. Once you know this, it is essential not to feel disrespected or undervalued. It is hence essential to contextualize.

My last point is related to the dressing code. Even though clothing is so internationalized in the business arena if one has to adapt to the Chinese culture, I am assuming that the business attire should be rather conservative without any type of clothing that could be considered to be revealing. This may sound irrelevant at a first glance. But the first impression in business is something that I consider important.

All these aforementioned variables should be taken into consideration when trying to acclimatize oneself to a Chinese business domain.  Nevertheless, I am excited to see whether my preconceived ideas match the reality and what I can end up getting from this new experience.

Comments Off on A step towards the unknown / 25 Feb 2014 por inescamarero
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