| When you begin to do business across many | | | | In the end, I found the best way to avoid any |
| different countries you quickly learn the different | | | | errors was to describe what this thing looked like |
| ways to address people. | | | | and how it fit into the printing process. |
| For example, in Anglo-Saxon countries, you can | | | | The Communication Mistake |
| start an email off with a simple "Hi". But in other | | | | The result? |
| countries you would make a better and faster | | | | Well... I was told that the catalog I put together |
| connection if you used a more formal greeting | | | | had the fewest errors in it that the publisher had |
| and take a little time to present yourself. Yes, | | | | ever seen for similar events. And I had done this |
| even if you are writing in English. | | | | in a very short time frame. |
| French people feel more comfortable, for | | | | But despite all of my efforts, I did have one print |
| example, when they know how to address you in | | | | error. |
| return. And you do not give them enough to go | | | | Yes, it was a big one. |
| on with a simple "Hi". They are used to an | | | | A logo was printed back to front. And this was |
| elaborate etiquette in writing hello and goodbye. | | | | very embarrassing because it was for: |
| Once you have learned how to say "hello" to | | | | - An important client - so high level apologies are |
| different cultures, you may think that you are | | | | needed |
| almost halfway through developing your | | | | - A Japanese client - where the cultural |
| international skills. | | | | differences make it difficult to find the appropriate |
| But this is far from true... | | | | way to apologize |
| You still need to learn to question different | | | | This mistake was a direct result of people doing |
| methods of doing things. | | | | things differently in different cultures. I thought I |
| An Example Of An International Catalog | | | | had resolved all of these issues. But one did |
| About 15 years ago, I was responsible for putting | | | | actually slip through the net. The only way I might |
| a catalog together for a major international event. | | | | have prevented this error was to physically be on |
| I had to contact over 1000 participants from all | | | | the production scene. Wrong interpretations or |
| over the world and get the text they wanted for | | | | miscommunication can happen at every single |
| their entry in the catalog as well as their company | | | | stage along the process. |
| logo. | | | | People Do Things Differently |
| This was before the world wide web was present | | | | You must never forget that different cultures do |
| over the world as it is today. So the company | | | | things differently. There is no right way or wrong |
| logo had to be given to the printing house in a | | | | way. There are just different ways. And in any |
| specific format. Well the words to describe this | | | | international setting you quickly learn to question |
| specific format were different in different | | | | your own way of doing things. |
| countries. Yes, even in English. | | | | - Is this what is being asked? |
| And the people I was in contact with were not all | | | | - What am I asking the others? |
| gifted in the printing industry. Whenever I tried to | | | | - Is this appropriate? |
| use the correct vocabulary there were just too | | | | In all cases, you learn to simplify your own |
| many wrong interpretations or translations. You | | | | requests and responses. |
| see, there were many different ways to provide | | | | And with experience you will probably find that |
| materials for print. And different favorite practices | | | | the best solution is often the simplest one. |
| in different countries. | | | | |