"Amat Victoria Curam" — Victory Favors the Prepared Ones

This principle is the cornerstone of your Success. Don’t forget about the Double-check rule, which we’ll cover in the next episode. For now, it’s essential to recognize that thorough preparation is crucial at every stage of the negotiation process, especially regarding protocol.

Protocol Mistakes and Pitfalls

Protocol errors often occur when the hosting side fails to consider the cultural nuances of their guests due to time constraints or a lack of awareness.

The consequences?

A drop in trust, a tense atmosphere, and missed opportunities for collaboration.

As usually, let me share a real story (one more expensive lesson)

A few years back, a delegation from a major Chinese corporation, ranked in the top twenty of the Fortune Global 500, visited an Eastern European country. Just to give you an idea: this company’s annual profit is way more than the entire budget of the host country at that time. During one of their scheduled meetings, some folks from one of the ministries warmly welcomed these VIPs and offered them teapots filled with hot water and a selection of tea bags.

What happened next?

The emotional vibe of the negotiations totally crashed and burned. None of the guests showed any obvious displeasure, but those cups? Yeah, they stayed untouched.

Later on, it became clear that this little detail was seen as a sign of major inattentiveness or even disrespect. For the Chinese, tea isn’t just a drink; it’s a big part of their cultural heritage. Serving tea in bags can come off as offering something low-quality, and in a business setting, it might be interpreted as being formal, insincere, or just plain disrespectful. It’s like serving fast food at a fancy gala instead of gourmet dishes—definitely not a good look!

Why Should You Care?

1. Cultural Differences Matter. Not understanding cultural and business traditions can lead to misunderstandings and leave a bad taste in everyone’s mouth. For the Chinese, tea is super important, and offering bagged tea can seem formal or even dismissive. Muslims are expecting Halal food in restaurant (we will discuss it in our later episodes)
2. Know Your Protocol. International meetings need attention to detail. Following protocol standards builds trust and respect.
3. Reputation Risks. Messing up like this can seriously hurt your chances for successful collaboration. Showing respect for your partner's culture demonstrates professionalism and genuine interest in working together.

The Lesson:

Before meeting with foreign guests, make sure to check out their cultural and business traditions. It’ll help you dodge mistakes and build a solid foundation for partnership.

Pro Tip:

If your meeting is tomorrow and you don’t have time to dive deep into cultural stuff, here are some quick hacks:

1. Draft an Itinerary: Write down your prospective schedule minute-by-minute where you’ll go, what you’ll eat, and what drinks will be served—coordinate all this with your counterpart's contact or moderator.
2. Make a Clarifying Call: If it’s not a high-stakes meeting, just pick up the phone for some quick clarifying questions. It shows you care and are interested—this can really boost your negotiation game!

In the next episode, I’ll spill the tea on my personal blunder known among my partners as "The Control Fiasco." You won’t want to miss it!?Hope this captures that youthful vibe you were looking for!