Intercultural gifts: an art of negotiation
You want to please your business partners by offering them gifts?Ā
Be careful, you could make mistakes if you donāt take into account their culture. Gifts are not perceived in the same way according to the countries, regions, religions, traditions.Ā
You need to adapt to avoid offending, upsetting or disappointing your interlocutors.Here are some tips to choose and offer gifts that will hit the mark:
Determine the type of negotiation you are conducting: competitive or collaborative. Competitive negotiations require tangible gifts, which have a material value. Collaborative negotiations prefer intangible gifts, which strengthen the relationship.
Respect the cultural context of your interlocutors: norms, customs, symbols. Some gifts can be misinterpreted, poorly received, poorly accepted. Find out about the timing, manner and place of giving gifts.
Adapt to the cultural preferences of your interlocutors: some like public gifts, others private gifts. Some appreciate ceremonial gifts, others discreet gifts. Some expect gifts eagerly, others refuse them out of politeness.
If you want to know more about intercultural negotiation, I advise you to read the book āGetting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving Inā by Roger Fisher and William Ury. You will discover the Fisher grid, a negotiation tool in four steps: analyze the situation, invent options, evaluate options, negotiate an agreement. It promotes a collaborative negotiation, based on common interest and trust. It applies to various contexts, professional or personal.Ā
And you, what are your favorite gifts in an intercultural context?Ā
What are the mistakes to avoid?Ā
What are the best practices to follow?Ā
Share your experiences and tips in the comments!
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