http://virtualworkingsummit.com/
Its already started but the first session was so great that I had to recommend this online summit to others who may work remotely or with International teams or those who may need to communicate with others using conference or web calls as part of their work. Click on the above site to register.
John Niland kicks off on 28th June with Building Trust Remotely,
Nancy Settle-Murphy on 29th June: Navigating Across Cross-Cultural Tripwires,
John Flynn on 30th June: Tools for Successful Virtual Working.
Jean Binder on 1st July: Communication on global projects,
Pete Bennett on 2nd July: The seven dirty tricks you must be aware of before choosing your audio and web conferencing partners
Gareth Kane on 6th July: Sustainability and Virtual Working
Elizabeth Harrin on 7th July: Social Media and Virtual Teams
Penny Pullan on 8th July: Conference Calls Made Easy
Lothar Katz on 9th July: Negotiating Internationally
Happy Listening......
Tuesday 29 June 2010
Saturday 26 June 2010
5 great iphone apps for travellers
Great apps for frequent travellers...
1. World Flights
Live departure and arrival information for every single flight in any given airport in the World. Fast, easy, intuitive and very low price: the best flight tracking application on the Appstore.
http://itunes.apple.com/app/world-flights/id374168766?mt=8
2. HotelPad
Hotel directory with maps, pricing and availability live info for most hotels across the World, again a must have for any last minute booking or finding the perfect location for your stay.
http://itunes.apple.com/app/id324473924?mt=8
3. Convert
Currency, distance, weights, measurements, temperature converter and more. Do not feel lost in any country and know instantaneously what is what.
http://itunes.apple.com/app/convert-the-unit-calculator/id325758140?mt=8
4. TripIt
Keep track of your flights booking, hotel and rental car reservations. A great complement to World Flights and HotelPad.
http://itunes.apple.com/nz/app/tripit-travel-organizer/id311035142?mt=8
5. Pageonce Personal Assistant
One app to keep track of your bank accounts, frequent flyers points, social networks and anything else you can think of while on the road.
http://itunes.apple.com/nz/app/personal-assistant/id285056092?mt=8
Happy Travels....
1. World Flights
Live departure and arrival information for every single flight in any given airport in the World. Fast, easy, intuitive and very low price: the best flight tracking application on the Appstore.
http://itunes.apple.com/app/world-flights/id374168766?mt=8
2. HotelPad
Hotel directory with maps, pricing and availability live info for most hotels across the World, again a must have for any last minute booking or finding the perfect location for your stay.
http://itunes.apple.com/app/id324473924?mt=8
3. Convert
Currency, distance, weights, measurements, temperature converter and more. Do not feel lost in any country and know instantaneously what is what.
http://itunes.apple.com/app/convert-the-unit-calculator/id325758140?mt=8
4. TripIt
Keep track of your flights booking, hotel and rental car reservations. A great complement to World Flights and HotelPad.
http://itunes.apple.com/nz/app/tripit-travel-organizer/id311035142?mt=8
5. Pageonce Personal Assistant
One app to keep track of your bank accounts, frequent flyers points, social networks and anything else you can think of while on the road.
http://itunes.apple.com/nz/app/personal-assistant/id285056092?mt=8
Happy Travels....
Tuesday 15 June 2010
Doing Business with the Brits
Doing Business with the Brits
Today, UK businesses are very different from 20 years ago. However, there is still some hierarchy in British firms, with a distinctive difference between the status of Executives and managers, with most executives having secretaries. But contrary to many articles you'll read about the Brits and their working practices, they have become much more egalitarian with flatter organisational structures. And, NO! bowler hats and pinstripe suits are rarely seen.
The British like to work in teams and identify with personal commitment to a group. Individual initiatives are generally taken following a group consensus to proceed. However, there is also a strong feeling of individual accountability for implementation. Most managers aspire to be effective, decisive and above all 'fair'. Fairness in relationships is more important than closeness (the Brits overriding value system lies in the concept of 'fair play').
Meetings start on time and conclude on time. A meeting without a concrete decision or result is seen as a 'waste of time'. Unlike many other cultures, meetings are generally informal in style and begin and end with social conversation. Participants are expected to make a contribution, not necessarily just in their own specialist area. Opinions are encouraged and listened to. Advance papers may not have been read thoroughly before the meeting (unlike the French, German and Finns).
Although English is spoken all over the world, many cultures need an interpreter to understand if the British are saying "Yes". Wanting always to be polite and to have time to think, a standard business response is, "We'll think about it" or "How interesting". Communication is open, somewhat indirect, impersonal and detailed. It can be contradictory; but it should never be personal. Northern Europeans often fail to understand the true meaning of British communication as it is not as direct as theirs.
Humour is frequently used as a defence mechanism, often in the form of self-depreciation or irony and can become quite sarcastic during disagreements or arguments.
Presentations are structured and formal, but usually have an element of humour. Nowadays, an element of entertainment is expected.
Understatement is very common. Brits hate over emphasis (hyperbole), they see it as boastful and pushy. Sometimes Brits appear less enthusiastic than they really are. Don't give British people a 'hard sell' or what they refer to as an 'American sell'. They dislike it, seeing it as manipulative and pushy. They'll walk away. The audience will expect to ask questions at the end.
Best tip for working with the British: beware of the 'stiff upper lip' which gives the British the appearance of formality and detachment, they traditionally use this when faced with difficult situations.
Interesting article recently posted at Sietar UK and written by Dr. Deborah Swallow
Today, UK businesses are very different from 20 years ago. However, there is still some hierarchy in British firms, with a distinctive difference between the status of Executives and managers, with most executives having secretaries. But contrary to many articles you'll read about the Brits and their working practices, they have become much more egalitarian with flatter organisational structures. And, NO! bowler hats and pinstripe suits are rarely seen.
The British like to work in teams and identify with personal commitment to a group. Individual initiatives are generally taken following a group consensus to proceed. However, there is also a strong feeling of individual accountability for implementation. Most managers aspire to be effective, decisive and above all 'fair'. Fairness in relationships is more important than closeness (the Brits overriding value system lies in the concept of 'fair play').
Meetings start on time and conclude on time. A meeting without a concrete decision or result is seen as a 'waste of time'. Unlike many other cultures, meetings are generally informal in style and begin and end with social conversation. Participants are expected to make a contribution, not necessarily just in their own specialist area. Opinions are encouraged and listened to. Advance papers may not have been read thoroughly before the meeting (unlike the French, German and Finns).
Although English is spoken all over the world, many cultures need an interpreter to understand if the British are saying "Yes". Wanting always to be polite and to have time to think, a standard business response is, "We'll think about it" or "How interesting". Communication is open, somewhat indirect, impersonal and detailed. It can be contradictory; but it should never be personal. Northern Europeans often fail to understand the true meaning of British communication as it is not as direct as theirs.
Humour is frequently used as a defence mechanism, often in the form of self-depreciation or irony and can become quite sarcastic during disagreements or arguments.
Presentations are structured and formal, but usually have an element of humour. Nowadays, an element of entertainment is expected.
Understatement is very common. Brits hate over emphasis (hyperbole), they see it as boastful and pushy. Sometimes Brits appear less enthusiastic than they really are. Don't give British people a 'hard sell' or what they refer to as an 'American sell'. They dislike it, seeing it as manipulative and pushy. They'll walk away. The audience will expect to ask questions at the end.
Best tip for working with the British: beware of the 'stiff upper lip' which gives the British the appearance of formality and detachment, they traditionally use this when faced with difficult situations.
Interesting article recently posted at Sietar UK and written by Dr. Deborah Swallow
Thursday 10 June 2010
Cross-cultural know-how for first time meetings
3 cultural know-how tips about first meetings, that I recently read on linked in........
1. Dress conservatively
You are planning to attend two important networking events: one in Milan, Italy, and another one in Dubai, UAE. How do you think your typical conservative suit would be perceived in these cultures?
In Italy, and particularly in Milan, the capital of fashion, the dress code is not to be overlooked. Style of dress is of the utmost importance, as outward appearance is indicative of inner values. Clothing is considered a reflection of your social standing, family background, education level, and overall level of competence. Therefore, dressing too conservatively or not making the extra effort to follow the current trends may give quite a bad impression.
On the other hand, your knee-length skirt, or tight-fitting trousers may be considered inappropriate in Dubai, where women usually wear loose-fitting dresses and show as little skin as possible. In Arab countries, modesty in dress and behaviour is the basis for respect. Not taking this into account may not only give a bad impression but even cause offence.
2. Greet every one with a firm handshake
The British handshake is a firm, quick shake. The firmness of the handshake is supposed to convey both dynamism and sincerity. It is considered acceptable for women to instigate handshakes with other men and women. But is it the same in Japan or Saudi Arabia for instance?
In Japan, hand shaking can only happen when an older and higher positioned Japanese person offers his hand to a younger person but never the other way round. Besides, handshakes are not supposed to be strong, and they seldom are. Therefore, a senior Japanese may not appreciate you instigating a firm handshake with him and may even feel offended by your obvious lack of respect.
In Saudi Arabia, physical contact between men and women is to be avoided. Be aware that while Saudi men may shake hands with other Western men, some Saudi men will not shake hands with Western women. You should therefore let them initiate the greetings and follow their lead.
3. Smile
British people tend to be quite reserved – there isn't generally an extensive use of gestures or facial expressions in the UK. A British person making a special effort to smile may appear moderately expressive in comparison to other cultures.
In Nigeria, smiling and showing sincere pleasure when meeting a person is important. People tend to be very expressive and more use is made of facial expressions than would be the norm for Northern Europeans. Warmth and friendliness are highly valued qualities. Neutral facial expressions are likely to be interpreted as a lack of interest in the other person.
However, smiling too much may be considered suspicious in Russia. Russian people tend to be rather formal, unsmiling, reserved and poker-faced at first encounters. They tend only to warm up when they are starting to appreciate and trust you.
Successful meetings...................
1. Dress conservatively
You are planning to attend two important networking events: one in Milan, Italy, and another one in Dubai, UAE. How do you think your typical conservative suit would be perceived in these cultures?
In Italy, and particularly in Milan, the capital of fashion, the dress code is not to be overlooked. Style of dress is of the utmost importance, as outward appearance is indicative of inner values. Clothing is considered a reflection of your social standing, family background, education level, and overall level of competence. Therefore, dressing too conservatively or not making the extra effort to follow the current trends may give quite a bad impression.
On the other hand, your knee-length skirt, or tight-fitting trousers may be considered inappropriate in Dubai, where women usually wear loose-fitting dresses and show as little skin as possible. In Arab countries, modesty in dress and behaviour is the basis for respect. Not taking this into account may not only give a bad impression but even cause offence.
2. Greet every one with a firm handshake
The British handshake is a firm, quick shake. The firmness of the handshake is supposed to convey both dynamism and sincerity. It is considered acceptable for women to instigate handshakes with other men and women. But is it the same in Japan or Saudi Arabia for instance?
In Japan, hand shaking can only happen when an older and higher positioned Japanese person offers his hand to a younger person but never the other way round. Besides, handshakes are not supposed to be strong, and they seldom are. Therefore, a senior Japanese may not appreciate you instigating a firm handshake with him and may even feel offended by your obvious lack of respect.
In Saudi Arabia, physical contact between men and women is to be avoided. Be aware that while Saudi men may shake hands with other Western men, some Saudi men will not shake hands with Western women. You should therefore let them initiate the greetings and follow their lead.
3. Smile
British people tend to be quite reserved – there isn't generally an extensive use of gestures or facial expressions in the UK. A British person making a special effort to smile may appear moderately expressive in comparison to other cultures.
In Nigeria, smiling and showing sincere pleasure when meeting a person is important. People tend to be very expressive and more use is made of facial expressions than would be the norm for Northern Europeans. Warmth and friendliness are highly valued qualities. Neutral facial expressions are likely to be interpreted as a lack of interest in the other person.
However, smiling too much may be considered suspicious in Russia. Russian people tend to be rather formal, unsmiling, reserved and poker-faced at first encounters. They tend only to warm up when they are starting to appreciate and trust you.
Successful meetings...................
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