http://www.globalrainmaking.com Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:55:31 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Join me in Atlanta at the Meeting Professionals International annual MeetDifferent conference next week when I present: How to Create a Great Global Conference: Strategies for Making Attendees from Different Cultures Feel Welcome and Included (Monday, February 9 from 3:30-4:15) and Outsmart the Economy: Grow Business Globally (Tuesday, February 10 from 1:45-2:30)     http://www.globalrainmaking.com/2009/02/04/outsmart-the-economy-grow-business-globally-at-meeting-professionals-international-conference/ The world feels like its shrinking: Technology and travel make our world flatter by the day.  But, in many ways, it's still a big world out there. Yesterday I was reminded of this when I led a session titled Captivating Clients and Co-workers across Cultures at the Professional Convention Management Association's annual conference ... http://www.globalrainmaking.com/2009/01/13/high-impact-international-insights-from-pcmas-annual-conference/ Have you ever felt frustrated when negotiating with someone from another country?  Cultural differences really rear their heads during negotiations across cultures.   One American businessman angrily said after his lengthy--but inconclusive-- negotiations with a senior Japanese businessman,  "He had the authority to make a decision.  So why didn't he just decide?"  As a culture, Japanese ... http://www.globalrainmaking.com/2008/08/30/know-before-negotiatingcollective-or-individualapproach/ As the New York Times  reported today, more meetings are going virtual. High travel costs, stellar  videoconferencing, and virtual tools like online document sharing, have all contributed to the rise in virtual meetings.  With fewer business meetings taking place in person, how will busy business professionals grow their client bases?  How will they become global rainmakers ... http://www.globalrainmaking.com/2008/07/22/virtual-global-rainmaking/ Let's say you are meeting with potential clients in a particular sector of an industry.  Make sure that you learn - and use - the jargon of that industry when talking to your prospective client. Whether pharmaceuticals, energy or banking, each industry has it own professional terminology.   If you don't know some of ... http://www.globalrainmaking.com/2007/11/19/industry-lingo-links-clients-and-rainmakers/ Oh, the power of a personal note. It need not be elaborate–just a few phrases handwritten on a nice note card and dropped in the mail. What an easy yet high-impact tool for making a good impression and strengthening relationships. Because all too few people ... http://www.globalrainmaking.com/2007/10/24/personal-notes-cross-cultures-powerfully/ Great work alone rarely keeps clients happy:  professionals also need strong relationships to bolster their client connections--particularly across cultures. Professionals can begin building rapport with potential clients from other cultures–even while giving speeches and other presentations.  I was reminded of this a few days ago while I  listened to Sir Howard ... http://www.globalrainmaking.com/2007/10/05/build-rapport-across-cultures-during-speeches-with-relevant-references/ One thing that I most loved about studying at the London School of Economics (and, for that matter, at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service) was the school's multi-cultural student body and faculty. The LSE's curriculum was brimming full of rich topics dealing with issues of culture, ... http://www.globalrainmaking.com/2007/07/24/your-clients-cultural-identity-it-may-not-be-what-you-assume/ In response to popular demand for a practical resource about building strong client relationships across cultures, I have a book in the works: NEW GLOBAL YOUTM NEW GLOBAL YOUTM will share strategies for professionals building business relationships across cultures. And so, how do you build rapport with clients, colleagues and competitors in ... http://www.globalrainmaking.com/2007/07/02/new-global-youtm-book-in-the-works/