Globalisation has increased opportunities for people to meet and work with others from dramatically different backgrounds.
At the essence of Mowgli is the sharing experiences and skills between men and women in business, and among individuals of different cultures.
In this section we discuss some of the most helpful models for thinking about culture, difference, and how to communicate and understand others who are different from us. For Mowgli mentors, this is essential- making an attempt to understand the cultural differences between you and your mentee will add a great deal to your understanding of how to communicate with them. Remember, cultural differences exist just as much between two people from different towns in the same country as they do between different hemispheres- so don’t think this doesn’t apply to you if you are mentoring an entrepreneur who is local to you.
We have included gender differences in a section on its own, both for its particular relevance both in the countries we work in and its importance in the field of entrepreneurship. Women’s participation in entrepreneurship and in the global economy is essential for sustainable and equal economic development; and Mowgli places a strong emphasis on supporting female entrepreneurs.
Basic tips for mentors:
Common sense and courtesy is at the heart of working with others from other cultures. If in doubt about how to behave, use simple English; speak with moderation and sensitivity; and ask for clarification and approval of your approach. If you explain that you are unsure of how to behave, and are at ease and open about the fact that you are likely to initially make mistakes, most people will understand and make allowances. Go carefully and listen to feedback (read more about effective listening in our Skills Centre).
A good place to start for mentors who are working with an entrepreneur from one of the Arab states Mowgli works, is in Chapter 4 of Walker, Walker and Schmitz’s 2003 book Doing Business Internationally: The Guide to Cross Cultural Success (2nd Ed. McGraw Hill ), on pages 92-107 (you can read some of it on Google Books). However, as they point out, every country in the MENA region is very different, and generalising too much would be a mistake; you may wish to research the specific country you are visiting.
Additional Mowgli Resources:
- How does cultural difference impact on the mentoring relationship?
- Communicating and the ‘iceberg’ of human differences; what human behaviour is made up of and how to deal with it.
References/External Resources (including Middle East culture guides)
There are many business articles, books and resources on understanding and working in different cultures.
- Walker, Walker and Schmitz (2003) Doing Business Internationally: The Guide to Cross Cultural Success (2nd Ed., McGraw Hill ) Amazon.
- A comprehensive web guide to Middle Eastern Business culture on Kwintessential
- ‘Doing Business in the Middle East: Middle East Social and Business Culture’ (2009) a short overview by Communicaid Group. Online here (PDF)
- Article: J.K.Sibenius and C.Qian (2008) ’Cultural Notes on Chinese Negotiating Behavior’, Working Paper 09-076, Harvard Business School. Online here (PDF)
- Book: A. Stewart-Allen, L. Denslow (2002) Working with Americans; how to build profitable business relationships (Prentice Hall/Financial Times). Amazon.
- Book: Book: E. Marx (1999) Breaking Through Culture Shock (Nicholas Brealey Publishing: London). Amazon.
- Book: Kate Fox (2005) Watching the English: The Hidden Rules of English Behaviour (Brealey, UK). Amazon.
- Book: E. Tuleja (2009), Module 4: Intercultural Communication for Business, in O’Rourke IV (Ed) Managerial Communications Series (2nd Edition): South Western Cengage Learning, Mason, Ohio.
