Many business leaders, when they begin to work overseas or interact professionally with teams abroad, are surprised by how much they thought they knew about the other culture, but how little it counts for on the ground. The reality is that communication is multi-dimensional, and simply knowing a foreign language doesn't mean one automatically understands the culture that goes with it. Idiom, psychological factors and cultural nuance all come into play. To grasp a culture, and communicate meaningfully to it, you need familiarity with language, of course, but also with non-verbal communication, customs, perceived values, and concepts of time and space. 
 Melissa Lamson, with years of experience in creating and nurturing high-performing global teams, understands how "It's not enough to know the language!" In her book, No Such Thing as Small Talk, she focuses on Germany, a major business partner for the United States, and the country in which she has lived and worked for over a decade. 
 Business leaders today expect to face cultural differences when they do business with, for example, China or Brazil. But with a Western, industrialized country like Germany, one that displays a business etiquette and work ethic similar to the United States, it is easy to overlook the differences simply because so much appears, on the surface, to be the same. The differences are not in your face but subtle. And these small, yet critical, differences are exactly what Melissa's book will help you identify, respect and bridge. 
 Melissa succinctly presents what she calls seven keys, or principles, to unlocking the German business mind. Her principles, whether they relate to process, punctuality, discipline or email communication, are insightful, personal and compelling. Not only does she clearly lay out the differences, but she also offers a cultural perspective that is rich with personal narrative. 
 If you plan to be in any way professionally engaged with Germany--whether you wish to participate in trade fairs, carry out negotiations with partners or colleagues, discuss schedules or terms with customers, or even apply for a job in Germany--the appropriate cultural understanding, as this book describes, will create mutual trust and will quite likely be the key to your business success.

No Such Thing as Small Talk: 7 Keys to Understanding German Business Culture

Business & Money

Lamson, Melissa

International

Happy About

Women hold 85% of the buying power globally, make up over 50% of the workforce, and there are three times as many female-owned start-ups as male-owned. Yet, there are still barriers to women who want to rise to the top of today's most successful corporations. Some of these are external, but many are in control of women themselves. We need to accept that there are differences between the genders and that we can leverage those differences for the benefit of the business at hand. Women are good at building relationships and leading with compassion; men are more focused in their communication style and can let criticism roll off them. These aren't just stereotypes, but qualities that companies can profit from to create innovation and meet the demands of today's diverse marketplace. Melissa Lamson on #WomenAdvance will provide insights, tips, and tools to support women in their career growth and leadership goals. By being aware of external barriers, removing internal barriers, and learning how to handle complex situations with confidence, women will have more opportunity to rise to the top of any organization they choose. Read Melissa Lamson on #WomenAdvance with gusto, and devour its contents. Women, see you in the boardroom Melissa Lamson on #WomenAdvance is part of the THiNKaha series, whose slim and handy books contain 140 well-thought-out AhaMessages(TM). Increase your influence by picking up the Aha Amplifier and easily share Melissa's quotes on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google+.

Melissa Lamson on #WomenAdvance: How Female Leaders Can Take Charge of Their Own Careers

Job Hunting & Careers

THINKaha

Most managers already know that cultural differences are important whenthey're dealing with business partners from other countries. They understandthat the current business environment is increasingly global. What today'smanagers don't fully get is that they must learn and use global managementskills in every interaction they have.Managers who buy this book will be able to make sense of commonsituations that they do not understand. After reading this book they will beable to recognize, assess, react to and solve complex management situationswhere diverse styles, personalities and cultures are in play.The New Global Manager is a daily resource for managers, providingpractical tools and frameworks like OAR¿ and 4DCulture¿, strategies and tipsfor successfully managing abroad and at home, face-to-face and virtually.If you are a new manager, or a manager with 20 years of experience, thisis the comprehensive resource you've been waiting for.

The New Global Manager: Learning to Manage Well in a Complex Business Environment

Lamson Consulting LLC

This book connects a buying psychology driven by American beliefs and values with a company’s go-to market strategy, the goal being to sensitize readers to how the cultural values of a particular country or region can impact the business environment. The book also addresses the reasons behind these differences and therefore begins with a detailed cultural comparison of the United States and Europe, and assessments of how these characteristics impact their respective markets and customer behavior differently.
Another aspect that sets this book apart is that it argues for sound decision-making processes as the first priority in any international business strategy. Readers are provided detailed insights into the variables a European company needs to understand before it makes its “go/no-go” decision, along with the tools needed to evaluate the probability of success and the risks of going to market. Once a company decides to enter the US market, the book then offers a highly customer-centric approach to developing and executing an effective market strategy.

Market Entry into the USA: Why European Companies Fail and How to Succeed (Management for Professionals)

Drews, Ralf

Management & Leadership

Springer

This book connects a buying psychology driven by American beliefs and values with a company’s go-to market strategy, the goal being to sensitize readers to how the cultural values of a particular country or region can impact the business environment. The book also addresses the reasons behind these differences and therefore begins with a detailed cultural comparison of the United States and Europe, and assessments of how these characteristics impact their respective markets and customer behavior differently.Another aspect that sets this book apart is that it argues for sound decision-making processes as the first priority in any international business strategy. Readers are provided detailed insights into the variables a European company needs to understand before it makes its “go/no-go” decision, along with the tools needed to evaluate the probability of success and the risks of going to market. Once a company decides to enter the US market, the book then offers a highly customer-centric approach to developing and executing an effective market strategy.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Lamson, Melissa. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Lamson, Melissa

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Lamson, Melissa. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

No Such Thing as Small Talk: 7 Keys to Understanding German Business Culture

Melissa Lamson on #WomenAdvance: How Female Leaders Can Take Charge of Their Own Careers

The New Global Manager: Learning to Manage Well in a Complex Business Environment

Market Entry into the USA: Why European Companies Fail and How to Succeed (Management for Professionals)

Market Entry into the USA: Why European Companies Fail and How to Succeed (Management for Professionals)