10 Tips For Business Success in Tokyo and Avoiding Cross Cultural ...

Pre-Departure Preparation

If you know you will be traveling to Tokyo with the objective of doing business, take the time to think ahead and prepare yourself as much as possible. Find out about the company you will be visiting and their expectations. If you have colleagues who have already worked in the Tokyo office, talk to them about it. What tips can they give you? It sounds so obvious but it always amazes me how many people arrive here with very little idea of the culture or background of the people they will be working with.

10 tips to help prepare the way for a successful trip to Tokyo:

Leave your usual expectations at home. Don?t assume anything. The unwritten rules that you might rely on back in New York or London, for example, are not the same here. In order to build a working relationship, try and put yourself in the shoes of your Japanese counterparts.

Make your life much easier by not coming over as the arrogant expat who has come to change the way things are done here. This is all too often the method that has been employed and witnessed by Japanese personnel and it is not appreciated. Showing respect and understanding will give you a far higher chance of success in gaining the co-operation of your Japanese counterparts and make the whole experience a far more pleasurable one.

Social Conventions. Most deals, discussions and formal business often take place outside of official working hours over a beer or meal. This is the accepted custom and you will find that people are far more relaxed in this environment than if you approach them over the same matter in the office.

Yes is not always yes. In Western culture, silence is often deemed to mean agreement or acquiescence. Silence in your conference room in Tokyo may not mean the same thing. The Japanese are often difficult to bring the uncertainty to express or clarify information required. In Japanese culture, is the traditional method of meeting, talking to everyone takes their turn. If you want to know the actual temperature of the participants, you need a little "more direct and interaction if you expect people to stop and to express their opinion, you can deal with some problems -.. Global and in most companies, it can be frustrating be, when you reach theAfter a discussion and find out what was thought to be a yes in fact the exact opposite. The golden rule is to confirm and to reach an agreement as you go.

Is that so? Another major difference is the cultural reluctance to say actually, yes! Ask a seller if the item you buy works are traveling abroad, it is very likely that the answer is "maybe." The answer is no longer appropriate in the Western cultural standards. To fix this and use issuesconfirmed by the definition of real actions, dates and times. Again with respect, to do this, but it is the only way to be sure (99%) that they have reached the end of you. Follow this with e-mail and do not forget the important after-hours socializing. That may be true if they feel the feelings, the objections and concerns.

To bow or shake hands with him? As a Westerner, it is customary to shake hands to greet someone and that is good as normal. It takesYears to learn the complexity of the arc. Depending on the seniority of someone depending on how deep and how long bows. If you wish to participate as a sign of respect, then watch that is around you and follow the example of the best advice.

Business cards, or how they know meishi in Japan, are an essential part of your arsenal if you're serious about the business in Tokyo. The cards will be treated with respect and never slipped into pockets or bags. When someonethe paper that I give you with both hands and you have and receive equally. Read the card and then put on the table next to you. After the meeting, place it carefully in your card, or other container.

Japanese traditional hierarchy. In the traditional business structures, personnel move through the ranks after their time with the company and age. It is very rare that a new diploma or younger employees to find asenior position. Although this is beginning to change, is still a reality in many national companies. This is almost a culture shock for the West, especially if one looks, good ideas are dismissed because they come from a young colleague.

Appearance. There are many stories about the number of clothes you walk around to see blacks in Tokyo and is a fact that this city is probably one of the strongest and started all over the world. Not all seeds arethe best quality, but men and women in professional positions should be dressed accordingly. If you are attending a meeting, keep the jacket on someone else until you take it. It would be rude if you do this first encounter. In short ? look intelligent.

Common sense. The Japanese are very comfortable in general. It can be difficult to assess as a non-Japanese comprehensively what happens when the tone and gestures are used in different ways and to alesser degree. Don?t be afraid to ask questions but do it in a respectful way. If you are overly direct then your question may be seen as a criticism or as an attack. If this is what you intend then fine, but if you want to build long lasting relationships this is not the best way to go about it.

As a final note, don?t worry about making mistakes. They will happen. But more than anything show a willingness to participate in and understand the culture around you. This simple act can be the key to making or breaking your success.

Want to know more information about the city of Tokyo? Check out TokyoTopia.com developed by a self-confessed UK Tokyoite.

Source: http://business-top7-or-10-tips.chailit.com/10-tips-for-business-success-in-tokyo-and-avoiding-cross-cultural-faux-pas.html

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