The vast majority of us have goals to go overseas. World domination is on the list of our things to do. But when we start to build our brand further out we’ve got to remember that transporting our business overseas comes with a lot of cultural clashes.

When you work with other countries it’s not just as straightforward as firing off an email or setting up meetings, there are so many other aspects that need to come into play so you can do good business. Working with other countries can throw up numerous differences. What are the things you need to consider?

The Language Barrier

It sounds obvious but when there is a problem with the language barrier, even if you’re both speaking the same language, there can be an issue with regards to how the message comes across. Translation agencies like Architekst can help with documents at short notice which is a lifesaver but when these documents are translated from English to another language we’ve got to be careful with our idioms. The most important component of doing business with another country in terms of the language barrier is learning how to speak as literally as possible. Once you start to build a relationship with these people you have more of a shorthand. But at the outset when you are still getting a feel for everything you’ve got to be very careful with what you say and how you say it.

“Thinking” Globally

A global business has a stark difference to a local office. Thinking globally isn’t just about how you market products but it’s also to do with thinking in a more inclusive way. You can start to embed specific values and attitudes within the business on a small scale at the outset because this may help people to work towards a bigger goal but you need to set the example. Learning to think globally is a completely different mindset to thinking in terms of small scale. It can take a few years to get to that point but before you start building relationships with foreign clients, if you can start to embed these values into your corporate culture, this won’t just create a more expansive way of thinking but it will improve a sense of belonging within the company.

Hiring Workers From Around the World

Put simply, it’s never been easier to hire remote workers. There are so many job boards online where people are specifically looking for remote work. This can certainly help to get you into a more global mindset but by hiring people from different cultures and from different locations gives you that springboard to thinking more inclusively. It’s the perfect way for you to learn about different cultures and approaches to work. It could very well be a shock to the system but once you start to put this in place you could implement a remote working scheme across the board which will save you money. But once you start to do this you’ve got to improve your communication due to the different time zones.

Working with other countries is a fantastic opportunity to expand your company but you’ve got to remember there are going to be considerable differences.