For the past two days, I conducted a seminar at the Tokyo headquarters of a major telecommunications company on how to work with people from Europe and America. Starting tomorrow, I will lead a two-day training session focused on how Japanese employees can work in offices across other Asian countries and, at times, take on management roles. Well, I often hear that TOEIC scores alone are of little use in international business. Having a high score isn't bad; it indicates a solid vocabulary foundation. However, the business world is full of unpredictable daily challenges. To navigate these and build trust with local colleagues, what's needed more than raw English ability is understanding the way of how to adapt and effectively use that language within the context of the other person's culture. This is a crucial theme that isn't taught in schools or anywhere else. How can we work effectively beyond the invisible cultural barriers that lie beyond the words? Without grasping this, negotiations, presentations, and even interactions with employees won't go smoothly. Coincidentally, I recently wrote a blog post summarizing this very theme. Visit https://tripeditor.com/488670.
Starting tomorrow, it's back to training sessions—a no-holds-barred, serious battle with those brave businesspersons struggling on the front lines. Today, I'll check into a hotel near the training site early and get some rest to reserve the energy for upcoming meetings.
