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Jun 07

A Dangerous Culture? Mexico’s War on Drugs and its Impact on Business Development

Cross Cultural Training, Cultural training for Relocation, Culture, Culture training for Business & Management, Culture training for Human Resources, Culture training for the Public sector, Language Training No Comments »
Mexico City andres balcazar i A Dangerous Culture? Mexico’s War on Drugs and its Impact on Business Development

© istockphoto.com/ Andres Balcazar

In recent years, news about Mexico in the foreign media tends to revolve around one topic – the deadly warfare taking place in the country since President Felipe Calderón declared a ‘War on Drugs’ at the start of his presidency in 2006. His intention was to disband the Mexican drug cartels who took control of the profitable trafficking routes left by the Colombian cartels defeated in the 1990s. Yet, this approach backfired and violence has escalated to the extent that the city of Juarez in the border state of Chihuahua has a murder rate three times higher than any other city in Mexico, making it the most violent in the country.

While these could be frightening events for companies thinking about doing business in Mexico, these headlines show only one side of the picture. In fact, living and working in Mexico should not be any more daunting than, say, living and working in Argentina or living and working in Chile.

Even though drug cartels and gangs do pose a real danger, this danger tends to affect people already heavily involved in the drug trade rather than the population in general. Violent incidents generally occur around border or seaside towns within a few states in Mexico, meaning there is only a limited impact on the remaining twenty-plus states.

Mexico, a newly industrialised country, is the eleventh largest economy in the world and the second largest in Latin America, only behind Brazil. Mexico is a member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and of numerous Free Trade Agreements, including the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

 

Mexico also has one of the fastest-growing middle classes in the world, whose spending power provides numerous and profitable opportunities for foreign investment. Additionally, Mexico has a proven record of high-quality industrial manufacturing, the car industry being the perfect example as Volkswagen, Toyota, BMW and General Motors, among many others, have set up successful business ventures there.

Tourism also plays a vital role in the Mexican economy, as Mexico is among the tenth most visited countries in the world. Tourist destinations range from the impressive ruins of Mexico’s ancient civilisations to idyllic beach resorts to highly industrialised and modern cities. A world-renowned cuisine, rich cultural history and the friendliness of its people make doing business in Mexico a very interesting and attractive business experience. Foreign companies should therefore ignore the benefits of doing business in Mexico at their own peril.

Mexicans are very friendly and open to foreigners, however a good knowledge and appreciation of the local culture and traditions will go a long way when doing business in Mexico. Communicaid’s cross cultural awareness training courses are essential for companies thinking about setting up business in Mexico or already dealing with Mexican partners.

While doing business in Mexico may seem less foreign to Europeans than doing business in Angola, for instance, knowing the local business etiquette and communication practices will ensure a smooth transition for international assignees, short-term visitors or managers who work on long-term projects or communicate virtually with Mexico. Communicaid’s Doing Business in Mexico cross cultural awareness training course will help you to understand Mexican business and social culture and build strong business partnerships with your Mexican colleagues.

Learning a bit of Spanish will also go a long way in making the right impression and building a solid relationship. Communicaid’s Latin American Spanish language courses will help give your company an edge when doing business in Mexico. Even if you do not attain a level of fluency in Mexican Spanish, understanding how Latin American and Iberian Spanish are as different as American and British English and learning a few key greetings and expressions will help you secure a good deal when doing business in Mexico.

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2010

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Jun 01

Communicaid in the Press: Language Skills in the City

Cross Cultural Training, Cultural training for Relocation, Culture, Culture training for Business & Management, Culture training for Human Resources, Culture training for the Public sector, International Business English, Language Training, News about Communicaid 1 Comment »

In an article written for Complinet, Karen Higginbottom speaks to Communicaid and investigates the need for globalised financial firms to give their employees language training even if they are English native speakers. She discovered that even if English is the “official language” when it comes to business, an increasing number of firms are wishing to deliver language training courses to their employees.

Looking at the example of the City of London, the world’s most renowned financial place, the importance of language training is evident.

 

IMG 2040002 cora malinak 425x282 Communicaid in the Press: Language Skills in the City

© Cora Malinak

This trend of providing language training is easily understandable. As financial firms increasingly develop their activities overseas, they recognise the importance and value of having employees who can speak different languages. This is particularly true in markets where English is not widely spoken or used or when dealing with junior collaborators who have not mastered the use of English in a professional context.

Speaking another language will help to ensure the success of any global expansion or investment opportunity. Being able to speak the local language is also a good way to show commitment and a genuine will to work with foreign counterparts, even if they are able and willing to speak English. Demonstrating some interest in their mother tongue is a good way to build a fruitful working relationship.

The ability to speak other languages is prized by most companies and can also provide a boost to executives’ careers. Karen Higginbottom quotes a report from the Confederation of British Industry showing that language skills are an important factor for a third of employers when it comes to recruiting new employees. Being able to speak another language is also a plus for expatriation candidates as they will be perceived as more capable of assimilating to the culture of their host country if they know the language. This quick assimilation will help them to be more efficient and operational within their new working environment.

Finally, language training will also help people to understand how they speak their own language to foreign nationals which is also key. Reducing acronyms and being careful about the use of humour will make a huge difference for anyone doing business in the global marketplace.

Providing high quality and tailored training to global organisations and responding to their specific requirements in function of their size, area of expertise and working environment is key for a culture and communication skills consultancy like Communicaid. Language training courses like French Language Training Courses or Russian Language Training Courses can be tailored and adapted to suit any type of requirements, ensuring a maximum return on investment. Participating in a Communicaid language training course is the first step towards learning a language and ensuring you and your organisation make the most of international opportunities.

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2010

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May 14

Cultural Language Skills: Learning to Speak Canadian

Cross Cultural Training, Cultural training for Relocation, Culture, Culture training for Business & Management, Culture training for Human Resources, Culture training for the Public sector, Language Training 1 Comment »

‘So I pulled on my tuque and my bunny hug and went to the dep to buy a loonie for a pop…’

Canadian English has been influenced by British English and American English, as well as French, giving it a character all of its own, as anyone who understands the introductory sentence will know.

Cultural Language Skills Learning to speak Canadian Cultural Language Skills: Learning to Speak Canadian

iStock_000011902476Medium Pawel Gaul

Canada’s unique history has resulted in a language that reflects both the waves of immigration that have formed the nation and the nature of that nation’s culture.

Over the past two centuries, Canada has experienced four waves of immigration. The first consisted largely of British loyalists from the mid-Atlantic states on the eastern seaboard who were fleeing the American Revolution in the latter part of the eighteenth century. This laid the bedrock of a strong British influence on the culture and on how Canadians spoke.

Many immigrants came from Scotland and Ireland in the nineteenth century during the massive social upheavals caused by the potato famine in Ireland and the highland clearances in Scotland. The governors of Canada welcomed this immigration as they were concerned about anti-British sentiment in the wake of the Anglo-American War of 1812 and wanted to increase the numbers of British residents.

Further waves of immigration took place in the nineteenth century, peaking in 1910 and 1960. Culturally, these were more diffuse, with immigrants arriving from nations across the world, creating the multicultural society that Canada is today.

Other significant influences on how Canadian English is spoken are the First Nation languages of the Native American tribes and the French spoken in Lower Canada.

The influences of all these cultures can be seen in some of the features of the language used in Canada. For example, Canadian English retains the British English spellings of French-derived words, such as those that would end in –or or –er in American English, like color or center. Likewise, British spellings such as ‘cheque’ reveal the links that Canada has had with British financial institutions, such as the Commonwealth of Nations.

Canada is also influenced by its neighbour, the United States. There is an increasing tendency to use Americanisms, particularly among the younger generations, but older usage of words such as tire (Br. English – tyre) or curb (kerb), for example, belie links with the US automotive trade.

Ultimately, though, Canadians have created their own distinctive culture and dialect from these diverse influences. Before going on an international assignment in Canada, it’s important to learn about the key differences in language and have a familiarity of Canadian vocabulary and expressions. Communicaid’s cross cultural training for relocation courses such as Living and Working in Canada can help you to understand the Canadian communication style and anticipate any cross cultural challenges to get the most out of your time living and working in Canada.

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2010

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Apr 10

Multilingualism: Advantages of Seeing the World from Different Cross Cultural and Linguistic Angles

Communication Skills Training, Cross Cultural Training, Cultural training for Relocation, Culture, Culture training for Business & Management, Culture training for Human Resources, Language Training No Comments »

The Italian film director Federico Fellini once said “a different language is a different vision of life”. A person’s world can stretch out in front of them for miles and miles or it can be a box around them depending on who they can communicate with.

Learning another language can open up new worlds, broaden your horizons and bring you into contact with many new cultures. The language you speak can mould your world view and by association your experience of life. Opening up to new cultures can enrich your life and give you new opportunities. Taking part in a cross cultural training program or in a language training course can help you broaden both your mind and your world view, increasing your cross cultural competence and your ability to communicate across cultures.

Scripts catscandotcom i Multilingualism: Advantages of Seeing the World from Different Cross Cultural and Linguistic Angles

© istockphoto.com/catscandotcom

 

Many people think that learning a new language will be boring or too time consuming, but they are often surprised by the progress made even after the first few language training courses. Even a basic knowledge of a language allows you to communicate and interact with someone from another country. Being able to say something as simple as ‘¡Hola, buenos días!’ (Hello, good morning! in Spanish language) will improve the positive impression you make on your Spanish speaking counterparts while it will also help you to build the trust that is so vital when building international business relationships. Seeing that this secret code registers and gets a response from the native speaker can be very satisfying indeed. After a few more language training sessions this could follow onto a conversation – and from there who knows?

Businesses can greatly benefit from building the cultural and linguistic skills of their employees. Speaking another language can open new markets up to you that were previously closed. Because English predominates as the ‘global language’ of trade and commerce, people often forget that the ability to conduct business with a non-English speaker in their own language, and with knowledge of their cultural values and norms, can build lasting bridges and forge links with that individual or company for many years to come. By taking part in Communicaid’s cross cultural training programs or in our language training courses, you or your staff can learn the language and culture skills needed to truly break any communication barriers and achieve global success.

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2010

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