I’m not sure that as Thomas Friedman
book suggests, The World is Flat, that it is. In fact one might think of it as
round and with ripples. As we interact and exchange conversations we
often measure the effectiveness of this in terms of our norms. Sometimes
we react with amazement as to how they view the same thing as we are looking at.
On a regular basis we receive notes of interest from outsourcing companies
looking for relationships, collaborations, help and partnerships. What
they share in common is that they all are asking for WORK. In a recent
interchange I decided to take a breath, a very long deep breath, and ask what
the individual expected from us. After a long interchange we got to the
WORK conclusion what I then found interesting was how they viewed WORK
opportunities getting created. For many they have a very simple model; MY CUSTOMER-THEIR SERVICES.
While I love simplicity one must understand what surrounds
these two components. MY CUSTOMER took time to develop, sometimes months
and often years to forge a relationship where trust was normal and not
forced. In order to introduce something new to these relationships
required a strong stewardship on my part. Otherwise, the relationship
would be put at risk and the wholesale exposure of my clients to others would
be comparable to putting them on a mass mailing list. Likewise, in order
to understand the supplier’s potential value proposition I need to know more
about them in order to validate the interest in representation but also to
reflect them properly to my customer friends. Because of culture
their representations can be skewed by what is viewed as things that will
attract buying interest. When in fact it is often the buying view of
their culture and not of the Western culture that they are selling into.
What can be done? While cultural emersion through travel
and education can get us started we must consider the use of ‘the
question’. Rather than becoming obstinate and digging in our heals, why
not try and find out how they view things? Are our suspicions true or are
we missing something? Cultures drive behaviors and behaviors create
confusion, conflict, prejudice; but in a more
constructive way an educational journey. Having traveled extensively I
have enjoyed just how rich other cultures are, especially since they may be
hardened by several hundred more years of development and solidification.
It is not a question of challenging but rather a case of understanding that we
might consider as the righteous course to follow.
In this upcoming holiday season let us remember cultural
tolerance, the importance of learning and the many joys that are at our hands
to develop.
Feel free to contribute your thoughts or send an email to me
at jdurant@Int-IOM.org
Ps. Written from the Delta Crown Room, JFK
International Airport on December 12, 2009 in transit to Milan, Italy. !97,584
miles 2009 – 8 countries and 31 states….. Cultural and Educational
Immersion to the extreme!
