A substantial moment of growth for a business or organization is to scale your business internationally. Because of e-commerce today, the web is international, and the world is
becoming smaller. No one expects to go onto a website to see a business or service that is only available domestically. Therefore, for businesses to succeed, they need to be able to meet the demands of these international customers and successfully scale.
Scaling a business internationally is not easy and often simple mistakes are made. One of the biggest mistakes leaders make is forgetting to acknowledge that you’re a guest in their
country. This starts months before you arrive with 3 tips to successfully scale your business internationally.
BE CLEAR HOW LONG YOU’RE STAYING
This is extremely important because governments and entities are trying to gauge your commitment as an organization. For example, are you just here because you have a hot new
product or business model right now, or are you there because you want to establish operations and longevity there?
DON’T SHOW UP UNANNOUNCED
You cannot just show up and say hey, we’re here and expect to succeed. Because you’re such a household name in your own country, that doesn’t mean anyone knows who you are elsewhere.
And you cannot assume they do. You have to work at describing who you are and what you do to your new customer base. A thorough, articulate strategy to describe who you are and
what your product does is important to give you credibility and an understanding of how this product, business, or solution fits into a long-term strategy. This includes helping people in the
country understand the potential roles they can play and the new experiences they can participate in.
UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT THEIR CULTURE
This can be the biggest obstacle. Your organization may have great processes and procedures in your country, but these do not always translate into the current rules and regulations of the
country in which they are expanding. Many times, labor rules do not always get the due diligence that is necessary for an international expansion. For example, there are work councils in different countries that guide how you exercise your personal time. There could be more religious holidays that are celebrated than you may be used to. In many countries, decision-making is
more collaborative. Whereas in the United States, for example, being aggressive or assertive can be recognized as a sign of strength, but in other countries, that may not be the norm and can be a turn-off.
Always try to understand and inquire about how things are done to avoid any misunderstandings.
CONCLUSION
As a guest in a new country looking to assimilate your business into a new culture, you have to demonstrate through your actions that you deserve their respect and business. To be successful
as an organization, you must be viewed as someone who wants to be part of the country and viewed as an organization that is sincere, fair, honest, and impartial. Remember, no one is too
big to fail in a new country.
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Let’s work together. I am a practitioner as well as an educator and motivator, and an experienced senior leader and CEO with over 45 years of boots-on-the-ground experience. I led one of the
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I believe that none of us can achieve success without some help along the way. For each of us, there is a person, a mentor, who we are grateful towards and who can help us get to
where we aspire to be. Sharing stories and experiences as a speaker is a way of recognizing the value of these experiences and giving back to the next generation of leaders. It also is a way of
demonstrating in words and deed the value I am placing in mentorship. As for me, I have been fortunate to have worked with and mentored by some incredibly special people, and none more
incredible than Coach John Wooden.
I have broad experiences to share that can help others as they grow and take on new challenges. During my time as president of UPS Supply Chain Solutions, I integrated over 20
acquisitions that became UPS Supply Chain Solutions. I steered UPS’s entry into the health care industry and created the mantra, “It’s a patient, not a package. ®” With the ability to see a clear
vision of the changing business landscape, the passion to develop strategies, tactics, and metrics to drive desired results, and the passion to develop the Best, The Brightest, Most Informed, and Best People in the industries they serve.
Please give me a call today at 610-322-0720 or email at [email protected]
THE LEADERSHIP LIBRARY PODCAST SEASON 8
Looking for quick morning leadership advice in under 5 minutes?
Check out Rocky’s Leadership Library podcast.
https://tightenthelugnuts.com/podcasts
For more information visit our website https://www.3sixtymanagementservices.com/. My book,
Tighten The Lug Nuts, will also serve as a workbook for these important topics and discussions.
