Launch Your Global Career Virtual Seminar Series - International Business Etiquette: Fitting in and getting on

1. Don’t forget to join other sessions in this webinar programme

2. LAUNCH YOUR GLOBAL CAREER VIRTUAL SEMINAR SERIES 4th– 29thMarch 2019 International Business Etiquette- Fitting in and getting on. • THE WEBINAR WILL START AT 12.00 • This Webinar will be recorded and placed on the Midlands International Group website Please use a nickname to enter the webinar if you prefer not to be identified • While you are waiting please check your audio by clicking on speaker button and adjusting the volume • Familiarise yourself with the screen Use the Chat window – to post messages, flag up technical problems and ask questions

3. How this webinar works • Using the webinar dashboard • Using webchat to introduce yourself, ask questions and make comments • Taking part in the polls • Your individual input remains anonymous

4. Webinar poll Where are you from? Let’s start by finding out which continent your home country is in. Complete the webinar poll to indicate where you come from: A Africa B Asia C Australasia D Europe E North or South America

5. Please type in comments or question on the webchat Add your name XXXXXand University Contact your Careers Service if you have any queries about how to get visa support in your University

6. International business etiquette:Fitting in and getting onEllen O’Brien

7. Ice breaker • Your experience of studying or working in the UK? • What was most surprising or most expected? • Which aspects seem the most challenging to adapt to? Top 3 tips you’d give to a friend starting on a new work placement or internship

8. What is Professional Etiquette? • An unwritten code of conduct regarding the interactions among the members in a business setting. • Can be applied to many areas of an individual’s work life including e-mails, phone calls, and business meetings and general behaviour in the workplace.

9. Introductions and First Impressions • How do you make a good first impression?

10. First impressions count! • Be on time • Be formal and dress smartly. • Act in a reserved manner. • No hugging or prolonged eye contact. • DON’T’S: Chatting and personal discussions during office hours or making personal calls. • DO be friendly and open. Important to mix with colleagues quickly after starting. A good time to do this is at lunchtimes.

11. 8 Key Cultural Dimensions Task Focus Strict Time Explicit Communication Achievement is important Egalitarian Emphasis on Individual Tolerant of uncertainty/risk One Rule fits all Relationship Focus Flexible Time Implicit Communication Status is important Hierarchical Emphasis on Group Preference for Certainty Adapts to the situation

12. Cultural Attitudes to Time Keeping Monochronic UK • Good time keepers • Keep to agendas • Form a queue • Focus on one thing at a time • See events as part of a sequence • Quick pace Polychronic Other • Regard lateness as being OK • Can do several things at the same time • Do not queue • Relaxed pace • Social relationships more important than deadlines

13. Conditions • Expect later starts and finishes than you may be used to • Normal business hours are 9 am to 5 pm, Monday -Friday, but most full-time employees work more than that. • Executives typically remain in the office until 7 pm or later, particularly in the corporate sector. • The British workday has become much more flexible lately with varying work patterns becoming more common. • Annual leave averages at 22 days per year

14. Appropriate etiquette • Coming in late to work is unprofessional • Most managers are flexible about taking time off • Holiday must be agreed in advance • Being late for an appointment or meeting is the height of bad etiquette. Arrive exactly on time or a few minutes before. In case of any delay, call the people concerned and tell them

15. Communication Low Context Other • Keep to the point • Direct and detailed • Say what they mean High Context UK • Talk around the point • Indirect and subtle (vague) • Avoid offending • Try not to lose face

16. Implications • Mixture of direct and indirect communication • Feedback and general interaction; usually made as ‘suggestions’ which often confuse. “If you have time you may want to look into that” • In meetings you must be able to understand others and get your view across. Listen attentively and take notes during discussions. • Do question, but do not accuse; and do discuss but do not argue. If you push for answers you will get vague replies.

17. Appropriate etiquette • It is considered rude to talk loudly at work or to speak in foreign languages. Use English at all times in the office. • Assuming charge or giving strong opinions is rarely acceptable, better to take a diplomatic approach until you prove yourself. • Negotiations are subtle, slow-paced and understated. Pay attention to what is said, as well as what is not said. The decision makers may be the ones who say the least during the negotiation sessions. • The British love to banter. If you are teased, take it in good humour and tease back without insulting anyone.

18. Expressing Emotions Neutral UK • Emotionally detached • Unemotional responses • Uses logical argument • Physical distance Emotive Other • Emotional behaviour • Dramatic • Openly discuss feelings • Tactile • Sentimental

19. Implications • “Brits are not keen on emotional displays or showing too much enthusiasm.” Remember the “stiff upper lip.” • Avoid sentimentality. • Do not boast about your achievements. • Do not touch colleagues and especially managers. • OK to talk about your family occasionally but avoid too much personal information. • Avoid displaying anger, frustration or grief in public.

20. Individual ; UK Rewards, credit, responsibility assigned to individuals Pride in being singled out Individual accomplishment and initiative prized Group ; Other Rewards, credit and responsibilities shared by group Uncomfortable at being singled out Individual accomplishment and initiative discouraged and downplayed Emphasis on the Individual or the Group?

21. Implications • You are responsible for managing yourself to a degree. • But you must always consider the impact of your actions on the rest of the organisation. • Being a good team player is a prime attribute. • Working on your own and using your initiative also key.

22. Achievement/ status • Be modest in interactions, and downplay your knowledge and expertise. Let your accomplishments speak for themselves. • Acknowledge your mistakes and seek solutions. • Be proactive - this gives you the highest brownie points. • Giving suggestions, helping others beyond your scope helps you to gain respect and appreciation. • Remember that the British respect people with opinions, even if those opinions conflict with their own. “They are great at reward and recognition”

23. General etiquette Be pro-active If you've finished a task, ask around the office for more work Don’t just ask for any task, find activities that you will be able to ‘sell’ on a CV or at a future interview Listen to other staff and colleagues, find out if there is a project/task that really needs doing but they lack the resource – offer your help! Attend meetings/get-togethers/networking opportunities

24. Resources • Richard D Lewis; When Cultures Collide. Nicholas Brearley International. 3rd Edition 2006 • GeertHofstede, Gert Jan Hofstede, Michael Minkov, Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind. 3rd Edition, McGraw-Hill USA, 2010 • Hall, Edward T. The Silent Language. Greenwich, CT: Fawcett Publications, 1959 • Essential Business Culture Guides over 30 countries • http://www.executiveplanet.com/index.php?title=Main_Page • Read more: Cross-Cultural/International Communicationhttp://www.referenceforbusiness.com/encyclopedia/Cos-Des/Cross-Cultural-International-Communication.html#ixzz1nJWIDWhQ • Guides to over 30 countries; • http://www.executiveplanet.com/index.php?title=Main_Page

25. Final comments • Reminder about • Rest of webinar programme • Using your Careers Service support • Early planning and active engagement

26. Tell us what you thought of this webinar by using the webchat to type in responses to the following questions Q1 What did you learn by attending this webinar? Q2 What further action do you think you will take as a result of taking part in the webinar? Q4 If a similar webinar was run with students in the future what changes would you recommend? For example you might type in.. Q1. Liked the polls Q2. Found it a bit slow-paced