Doing Business In China
Monday, May 26, 2008
Westerners should be patient in business dealings with China
The International Resource Group hosted a networking luncheon on Tuesday that featured the presentation "China Business Protocol and Etiquette" by Qihong Lou, CEO of Cross China, a company that facilitates mergers and acquisitions between American and Chinese companies.
The event: The IRG's monthly luncheon was held at The Inn on Broadway with lunch provided by Tournedo's.
The afternoon kicked off with casual networking and introductions by Sharon Badenhop, an IRG board member who was not above busing tables after lunch.
David Lee, an independent consultant who facilitates overseas trade who lives in West Irondequoit and travels frequently to China, was there to make contacts with others interested in doing foreign business, suggested a tortoise-not-hare mentality.
"My last visit, talks broke down. It doesn't always work out, but making contacts and developing relationships" make up the overriding currency in China and many other Asian markets.
In her presentation on how properly to conduct business in China, Lou advised westerners to be patient, letting a business relationship develop at its own pace.
"Colleagues are frequently brought into a family dinner, business is not so separate from family life" as in the United States.
During her interactions in China, Raquel Silverberg of Rochester had difficulty distinguishing "what needs to be done right away from what can wait."
Lou described concepts such as "GuanXi, MianZi and ZongYong," or long-term interaction, reputation and harmony, as being elemental to successful business negotiation.
The crowd: Twelve representatives or owners of businesses with international bureaus attended. Said Sharon Badenhop, who is also president of USA East: "We had seven no-shows today, but like the little engine that could, we keep chugging along."
Annual membership dues for the IRG start at $50, or $25 for students, and events are open to nonmembers as well.
When consulting with companies expanding into foreign markets, director of global HR for Providium Kristin Sampson says she will "always strongly recommend cultural training to understand cultural norms."
Find out more about the IRG online at www.irgnet.org
The event: The IRG's monthly luncheon was held at The Inn on Broadway with lunch provided by Tournedo's.
The afternoon kicked off with casual networking and introductions by Sharon Badenhop, an IRG board member who was not above busing tables after lunch.
David Lee, an independent consultant who facilitates overseas trade who lives in West Irondequoit and travels frequently to China, was there to make contacts with others interested in doing foreign business, suggested a tortoise-not-hare mentality.
"My last visit, talks broke down. It doesn't always work out, but making contacts and developing relationships" make up the overriding currency in China and many other Asian markets.
In her presentation on how properly to conduct business in China, Lou advised westerners to be patient, letting a business relationship develop at its own pace.
"Colleagues are frequently brought into a family dinner, business is not so separate from family life" as in the United States.
During her interactions in China, Raquel Silverberg of Rochester had difficulty distinguishing "what needs to be done right away from what can wait."
Lou described concepts such as "GuanXi, MianZi and ZongYong," or long-term interaction, reputation and harmony, as being elemental to successful business negotiation.
The crowd: Twelve representatives or owners of businesses with international bureaus attended. Said Sharon Badenhop, who is also president of USA East: "We had seven no-shows today, but like the little engine that could, we keep chugging along."
Annual membership dues for the IRG start at $50, or $25 for students, and events are open to nonmembers as well.
When consulting with companies expanding into foreign markets, director of global HR for Providium Kristin Sampson says she will "always strongly recommend cultural training to understand cultural norms."
Find out more about the IRG online at www.irgnet.org
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