10 Power Tips For Global Execs
February 1, 2008
In a globalized world, best practices are sometimes overshadowed by expedient policies. This trend attenuates organizations at the core and leads to sky-high attrition rates and substandard performance.
However, at the foundation of laudable organizations regardless of age, culture or revenues, best practices are endemic. With the economies in Asia burgeoning, some executives find it hard to instill the elementary, yet crucial, practices that are the building blocks for long-term success.
Below I’ve listed some of the basics that can be found in the old reliable multi-national companies as well as upstart entrepreneurial organizations that have blossomed over the past 15 years. You can find these practices in well run offices from Singapore to San Francisco.
10 “Power Tips” for Global Executives and Entrepreneurs
- Never invest your own money into an unproven product until there is a certain level of commitment from investors or potential customers.
- In Formal Cultures (Asia, Africa, Middle East), do not focus your sales time on the lower level in the hierarchy unless referred by more senior management to do so.
- Avoid “Motherhood Statements” in business meetings. They are okay for general monthly meetings, but can easily become habits and add little to no value.
- Define the role of all participants prior to critical meetings.
- Use the “sidebar rule” when a member of the meeting goes off topic for more than 1-2 minutes.
- Accurately measure your “Pay” v. “Non-Pay” activities. The general rule is that you need to keep your non-pay to pay ratio at 3 to 1 or less.
- Don’t always go for the “last word.” It can be interpreted as an inferiority complex.
- Have a plan B and C.
- Decide on the one or two things that you do best and observe how they mesh with your team.
- Remember, diplomacy is the art of getting people to do things your way.