How can you avoid common networking mistakes across cultures and regions?

Have a genuine inquisitiveness similar to being a young kid in school. You don’t know everything about everyone so ask the questions, take a genuine interest in the replies and try and find similarities with your own life and experiences. Most people are as lost in this world as you are and craving a personal connection especially that one you see from the distance that appears to be strong, confident and like they have everything together, they are the ones looking for deeper, more authentic ties.

Show enthusiasm, inquisitiveness, focus and interest in conversations you have with others you meet. Bring a growth mindset and active listening skills to all conversations. I believe in the power of networking, an opportunity to meet new people, build professional relationships, open up opportunities for new collaborative working, share practice and experiences. I have learnt to always humble myself, and never assume that I know everything and/or where everyone is coming from, ask questions for clarity. I am also a great believer in always doing some research into any networking events and expected attendee backgrounds.

O Networking é fundamental para o nosso cotidiano, é a arte de ser interessante sem ser interesseiro, pois possibilita trocas enriquecedoras, e abrem portas para novas possibilidades e oportunidades.

This becomes a lot easier if you are curious, open minded and interested in different cultures and the different teams you work with across region For me, it's no different to how i'd treat people in my local office Be polite, respectful, listen and understand Having travelled extensively, I appreciate differences can be as good and important as similarities We're all people at the end of the day ... if we just treat each other as equals, we get far

It is important to be as aware as possible about a particular region or culture if you know your audience in advance. There is so much information easily available to prepare. Start the conversation using some of the tips. In case your audience is a surprise, give your complete attention while listening actively during the interaction. Don't touch any sensitive topics like religion or personal topics like family. Talk less and listen more to get some hints on the other person's area of interest and preferences and start building the conversation on the same. Don't be in a hurry to share your point of view and impress. Make the other person feel very special so that it is easy for her to trust and open up reasonably faster.

Engagement with people is about natural mimicking… if someone stands up full size without realising it you’ll need to do the same. If they sit back, talk soft, they speak louder you need mimic and to be aware of your physical approach. You’ll gain respect. Definitely do not go in all guns blazing and shove cards at people. Put the time in and introduce yourself, make meaningful conversation, be genuine and learn about people. Give and gain respect. Be an interesting person and go prepared. Take cards or scan others with notes on iPhone. Smile- it’s your business card… learn to shake anyone’s hand well (not a dead fish nor a vice grip) for it’s your logo, your elevator pitch is your brand (sell it but leave them wanting more)

A mi me resulto muy util leer y certificarme en Coaching cultural, con Philippe Rosinski, de Belgica.. Ultimamente lo veo en los listados de Top 10 gurus del mundo y no es de sorprenderse pues Desarrollo una herramienta muy sencilla para evaluar varios rasgos culturales, y en Latinoamérica casi que de forma recurrente una diferencia clara es el estilo de comunicación ! Por los general en paises anglo sajones, son claros, directos concretos. En latinoamerica damos rodeos adornamos todo, no vamos al grano y eso genera desgaste a algunos. En California tambien desarrollaron unas graficas muy utiles para medir las diferencias culturales, parecen a la vista “electrocardiogramas” y las diferencias culturales son bastante notorias.

Communication transcends words; it's about style and context. Across cultures, adapt your tone, gestures, and feedback approach. Be attuned to directness or subtlety, humor or seriousness. Tailor your communication to resonate with your audience's values and preferences. Bridge cultural gaps with understanding and flexibility to foster meaningful connections.

It's a well known fact that every culture has its own history and evolution which affects every aspect of our lives to act/behave/react in different scenarios. So it's always imperative to adapt the way to connect with the people in a network where different cultures exist. to understand it better we have to spend sometime in advance before to be a part of such network since it plays a vital role not how you adapting their communication style to be in but how they accept "you" as integral part of their own network.

Regardless of how much research you have done before the event, it's always a good idea to focus on the people in front of you and observe - carefully, curiously, and respectfully: How are they speaking and acting? How do they signal interest? How do they engage you in conversation? What subjects do they love speaking about? Yes, there will be cultural patterns like directness / indirectness, formality / informality, and preferences like more / less personal space, but you might also notice that the particular person in front of you has their own unique, personal and idiosyncratic style, which matters as much as their cultural habits.

It all starts with a open minded and active listening what others have to say. In order to understand others culture or even perspectives on any topic we have to be open enough to welcome their diverse views and rationale behind it to accept it fully even if it does not match with your past experiences. We must appreciate diverse cultural views in order to learn a different way of doing the same thing to get the different results which opens us to next level of networking

Curiosity is an underrated feeling. When we tap into being curious, we ask questions, we learn and we build strong and genuine relationships.

Active listening is such an important part of this. Too often we're waiting for the opportunity to speak rather than actually appreciating what the other person is sharing.

Curiosity and an open heart can bridge cultural gaps. Embrace the richness of diverse perspectives. Avoid judgment and stereotypes. Instead, seek to understand the tapestry of human experiences. Listen, learn, and appreciate the beauty of our interconnected world.

Queria saber porque crescemos e deixamos de ser aquelas crian?as curiosas. Quando estou em uma cidade nova, gosto de saber sobre a cultura, entender como é a sua fala e os quitutes. N?o podemos nos esquecer que estamos como visitas na casa dos outros e precisamo respeitar.

For me, the most important aspect is to never break the trust, during good and bad times of a relationship. Building trust requires a long time, and destroying it takes minutes. Proceed with the speed the other person is comfortable with and remember that every individual is different, even within the same region or culture. Understand and appreciate the other person's uniqueness patiently including her IQ and EQ, and match the same with the right level of responses. Share similar-level experiences and vulnerabilities to connect better. Look for commonalities to strengthen the connection. While being curious, please be mindful and respect boundaries. If managed well, it continues for a lifetime.

Building trust is the most important aspect . How do you build it in a short while . Well the answer is not so simple and never so easy since building trust takes time . One can bring down the time to build trust in the first interaction . The key is how genuine you are. in the business meetings the objective is to build network to scale up the current level of business . Here being genuine and offering to help resolve a problem and own understanding of the problem helps . Do not oversell , seek to understand and also ask if the person in front of you is looking for any support . Do not shy away to state that you can think over the problem statement and write back with a solution . This helps in getting the contact information .

Some cultures are generally more open and trusting than others so a lot will depend on the predisposition of people you are communicating with. However trust can be built in any cultural setting by showing genuine interest in a person's professional experience or more personal (depending what information is shared publicly). Ask yourself, would you be willing to spend time with yourself approaching or asking what you are asking. Would you feel comfortable sharing something with a stranger? Trust is a feeling, so start by being open first, share something that's important to you (and appropriate to the situation). It will be transmitted to the other party and this will facilitate rapport.

Understanding the preferece of the culture you are in is key. In a culture that values relationships, you must spend the time to get to know your team. In this type of cultures, people feel that they are doing business through personal relationships and without building that first, it will be difficult to move forward with the business.

Successful networking takes time. So does building rapport and trust. My experience in networking across cultures is that communication styles and preferences differ. For example, at a recent networking session the co-host expressed in one-to-one conversation that building rapport prior to in-person networking would make it easier for socializing.

This is the most important but difficult part. We all have our current priorities and it is easy to ignore and forget earlier relationships. Once you have established a good relationship, it is critical to find opportunities that look natural (not forced) to keep in touch. As an example, if you have a common taste for technology, please share a good article that you (or someone important) wrote, sharing how it reminded you of her. Please don't do it too frequently, so that it does not annoy the other person. Never make the mistake of asking directly for a favor if you have not kept in touch. It kills the relationship forever. Be personal only if the other person appreciates it and has opened up frequently on a few topics.

This is the hardest part for me sometimes. I have met amazing people and regret not following up and maintaining contact weeks later. So I am being more intentional in my interactions and since I can't keep up with business cards, I love my HiHello QR code that shares my info so quickly and allows me to save my new contact's easily as well.

Relationship is like crops. We water and nourish the plants to get the desired yield. Similarly, being in touch and concerned works well in relationships and building long lasting networks. We need to understand and sense the requirement before proceeding. Being much informal in a society or culture where formalities are preferred can actually backfire. At the same time being formal in an Informal culture may sound awkward and defensive. We need to act as per the scenario and situational requirement.

Excellent points about understanding the background and cultures of the people you are networking with. I would say to absolutely respect the type and frequency of follow up communication. One thing I’ve learned over my many years of being an effective networker and also teaching my career coaching clients how to network is to make sure you “give more than you get.” It makes a huge difference to just even offer to support the other person, through offering a connection, resource, idea or other positive gesture. People are so busy and overwhelmed that often (after waiting 7 to 10 days) you have to be persistent. Respect the person’s space, but don’t get discouraged if you don’t hear from them.

In my experience, you are better off learning from others first. As you would do with anything, it is important to research the region/culture or ask someone who has ventured before. What is more impactful in my opinion, combined with research beforehand, is asking the people you are interacting with questions - this helps not only build knowledge and perspective, but also connection and rapport. For example- the simplest question I ask is “Did I pronounce your name right? How do you pronounce it normally as I like to learn” or “I am new to the region, and read beforehand that x,y,z should be done - is that how you see it?”. This never failed to deliver!

Based on my experience, to avoid common networking mistakes across cultures and regions, prioritize cultural awareness and empathy. - Research local customs, etiquette, and communication styles before interactions. - Practice active listening, observe non-verbal cues, and ask open-ended questions to encourage dialogue and understand perspectives. - Be mindful of your own biases and stereotypes, and avoid making assumptions based on appearance or accent. - Adapt your communication style to suit the context and show genuine interest in learning about others' backgrounds and experiences. - Build relationships by finding common ground, and be respectful of differing opinions and beliefs.

Start by listening Oftentimes, we’re so eager to share all the things we think are interesting about ourselves or we are so incredibly nervous entering a room full of strangers, that we forget to really listen to what others have to say. Slow down, take a breath and actively listen to the stories and insights of the people you interact with. You’d be surprised at how much you learn.

Cultural awareness is an ongoing journey. Share experiences and insights with peers to learn from one another. Remember, the true essence of networking is connecting with people on a human level, regardless of where they come from.

Let’s dig into the amazing journey of connecting across cultures and regions. Here are the never-bad ways to go: ?? Celebrate the Mix: Remember, there's no one culture that's better than the other. Let's celebrate the richness that diversity brings to the table. It's like mixing red wine with black coffee – a symphony of flavors that keeps life exciting. ?? Embrace the New: Don't be shy to try something new. Push your boundaries, and discover hidden gems that will enhance your networking experience. Keep the fire of curiosity burning! ?? Listen actively: Empathize, and learn from others. It's the secret sauce to building meaningful relationships. ?? Dance with Diversity: Let's make it a party, respecting every culture's unique moves.