Americans like get to business done and then go out for dinner and drinks. In Europe, expect to spend a lot of time socializing first if you want to clinch the deal.
“In Europe, it’s about establishing the relationship,” Jeppesen senior Vice President Greg Bowlin told a group of business people Thursday in Denver at World Trade Day. “We shouldn’t expect the Europeans to act like us.”
Going global means deciphering the maze of trade agreements, exchange rates and labor laws, but all that is immaterial if you haven’t bothered to bone up on the most important subject: Culture.
Representatives from Colorado companies that export goods and services to Europe, Asia or the Americas shared their expertise at the event, organized by the Rocky Mountain World Trade Center Institute. Although technical details vary from region to region, panelists at all three discussions shared the common thread that companies need to spend time learning local customs before they can reach success.
