Across cultures
Cross-cultural collaboration and negotiation
Global teams full of talent, but half their energy goes into decoding each other’s emails, tone, and “hidden messages” instead of attacking the actual problem.
Every client deal I see the same movie: one side thinks they’ve agreed, the other thinks they’re still “exploring options,” and weeks of building trust evaporate in one confused call.
My team consists of international negotiators: brilliant at home, but in cross-business talks they either become too soft out of politeness or too demanding out of panic. We leave trust (and money) on the table.
Teams spread across different time-zones and cultures work differently. Two companies negotiating a business deal operate according to different principles. Different cultures all see themselves as “the norm” and the other party as “the exception”. You realise that simply understanding the different culture is not enough: you wonder how to practically build bridges.
Turning Cultural Insight into Real-World Action
I help your people understand the different cultures in detail. But we both know that “understanding” will not change your business. I’ll dive into the real-life dilemmas that bother your cross-cultural teams, and offer practical solutions to improved collaboration. International negotiation is my specialty: I’ll work with your team to prepare and execute the different stages of global, multi-party negotiations.
At the negotiation table or in the weekly ‘alignment call’, both sides share their truth. And both are valid. There’s a few places where these truths meet: that’s the real friction. The best negotiators recognise this sweet spot, and bring the tension out in the open. My conclusion after each intervention is: more knowledge about the other culture will not help, but recognizing how the different points of view are both valid results in added value for the two companies!
Information
You are losing value when international teams and deal-partners turn cultural friction into silos, delay, mistrust, and money left on the table. Let’s make your next tough talk a turning point.
Let’s talk about how cultural differences can be overcome smoothly.
You are losing value when international teams and deal-partners turn cultural friction into silos, delay, mistrust, and money left on the table. Let’s make your next tough talk a turning point.
Frank made us reflect on barriers to collaboration and our silo-attitudes. He is instantly trusted by the team, and gently confronts us with our own mindset.
Mahrou Kharazi
Product Manager at Philips Healthcare
Frank made us reflect on barriers to collaboration and our silo-attitudes. He is instantly trusted by the team, and gently confronts us with our own mindset.
Mahrou Kharazi
Product Manager at Philips Healthcare