WECBOF e-Bulletin I VOLUME 6 I November 2019
Western Cape Business Opportunities Forum
CEO’s Corner
How to overcome cultural barriers in negotiation
Living in a country with a diverse amount of cultures and having access to the global markets makes being aware of cultural barriers in negotiation very important. This awareness could make or break a good negotiation. There are many aspects to someone’s culture which could create a barrier in the negotiations.
Here are a few tips to help to break the barriers.
Learn a few phrases
People appreciate it if you make an effort to connect to their culture. So try to learn a few phrases in their native language which you could use to break the ice at the beginning of the discussion. Furthermore, research the business customs of the culture.
Research your client
It is important to get as much information about who your potential client will be. Find out about their experience and background. Furthermore, it is important to find out if they have done many international negotiations before or not. This will help you to know if you need to adjust your negotiation tactics. If you struggle to get information, ask someone in their business if they would be able to get you the information you need.
Hire a cultural adviser
If your client has not done many international negotiations, it is important to hire an adviser from their culture. This person can help to guide you during the negotiations. Should they feel that you are doing something to offend your client, they can step in and give you advice on how to rectify the situation?
Be accommodating
Your client may have certain cultural needs that could require them to step away from the meeting. Try to take these into consideration when planning a negotiation with them so that you can have a successful negotiation.
In addition, as an employer you can equip your employees to deal with cultural barriers by doing the following:
Promote appreciation for cultural difference
You can do this by holding a lunch-and-lecture meeting. You can encourage socialisation within your company and with clients by holding a lunch where a few people make food from their culture and share it while explaining some of the customs of their culture which are different to others.
Encourage them to try new things at least once
When faced with opportunities to explore your client’s culture, you will have the chance to try new things, especially food. It is important that should the consumption of certain foods go against your values that you politely decline. You need to respect each other’s culture but furthermore there needs to be a tolerance for the difference that each person has. This will help to build a bridge instead of a barrier.
Cultures add to the tapestry of life and if we can go into a meeting understanding where each one is coming from then we will be able to have successful negotiations. Through showing tolerance and understanding, the barriers which exist can slowly be broken away and a new happy medium can be created.
IN THIS ISSUE
- CEO’s Corner: How to overcome the cultural barrier in Business
- The Big Q By Heinrich Jemane
- Gallery
- Tenders
UPCOMING EVENTS
WECBOF’s LAST FORUM EVENT FOR THE YEAR!!
Join us on the 13th November at the Artscape Theatre where our Honourable Speaker James Vos will be talking about Business Economics in the Western Cape.
Don’t Miss out on this opportunity.
Event Details:
Date: Wednesday, 13 November 2019
Time: 19:00 till 21:00
Venue: Artscape Theatre CBD
To RSVP: send us an email at office@wecbof.co.za
If you are working in the Construction & Manufacturing Sector in the Western Cape, Don’t miss out on this networking session.
Date: 7th November 2019
Time: 18H00 till 19H30
Venue: NuEra Group, 3 Irene Street Bellville.
If you are working in the Engineering and Metal Sector in the Western Cape, Don’t miss out on this networking session.
Date: 12th November 2019
Time: 18H00 till 19H30
Venue: NuEra Group, 3 Irene Street Bellville.
GALLERY
- Arifa the MC at our Breakfast Bites
- Lucky draw Winner: Ghulaam from Saber Business School
- Lucky draw Winner: Fatima from Chorp Chem
- All the Wonderful attendees
- Lovely ladies in construction
- Lucky Draw winner: from Fish Bowl Centre
Introducing Members
Ju’Al Events and Training
Ju’Al Events & Training (pronounced Jewel) was started by Julia Falken (Director at EduEvents) and Alison Barnard (Director at African Kaleidoscope Events – AKE) as they believe that collaboration is of vital importance in the world of business today.
Both Alison & Julia have a passion for event management as well as training and development and decided to pool resources, talents and skills.
News
The Big q
Starting a business from scratch is very hard work. Keeping it alive during its initial years, even harder. According to the 2016 SAICA SMME Insight Report “(t)he older an SMME is (i.e. the longer it is in business), the bigger it will be and the more people it will employ”.
One of the reasons small businesses fail is due the lack of quality it brings to the market. Customers may be interested in testing your new product or service. The price may be affordable and the marketing may be excellent, but the lack of quality may discourage customers from continued support.
A few quality issues that may influence customer loyalty is listed below:
- Effective communication: A customer with a query expects acknowledgement and resolution thereof as soon as reasonably possible. A client will lose interest if the business doesn’t appear interested in him or her.
- Attention to detail: An accounting firm producing balance sheets that doesn’t balance or documents with spelling errors, for example, surely lack acceptable internal quality control processes.
• Substandard products: Although it is important to keep production cost as low as possible, the overall quality of the product should not be compromised. There may be a great uptake of the first batch released, but don’t expect growth in sales once those customers experienced product defects due to bad quality materials.
• Basic professionalism: A generally untidy place of business, untidily dressed staff and unprofessional appearance is a definite turn-off for customers.
As a business owner it is of vital importance to address quality issues in your business as soon as it arises to mitigate the risk of client loss.
Should you need more tips on this topic, kindly contact us. Heinrich Jemane CA(SA) is the founder and managing partner of LBH Chartered Accountants. Visit our website: www.littlebizhub.co.za or call 021-9038127. Also “Like” the LBH Chartered Accountants Facebook page
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