[Global Business Consultants]


What's Your GQ*?

* (Global Quotient)

Which of the following are correct when making a presentation to your Japanese client?
  1. Limit your speech to no more than four points
  2. Use visual aids, charts, and graphs
  3. Expand your gestures
  4. Begin with a persuasive disclaimer
The correct answer is

b. Use visual aids, charts, and graphs.

The Japanese people are the most visual of all societies. Long English sentences may not translate, and they will relate better to any visual aids you can have for your presentation.
d. Begin with a persuasive disclaimer.
Saving face is one of the most important aspects of a collective society. You could begin with, "I am humbled to be before such an esteemed group. Please be patient with me as I present this data to you." Then the first ten seconds after this should be powerful.
You are conducting business with your British colleague. You have six items on your agenda to discuss with him. You get to the third item and he asks you to "table" the issue. What would you do?
  1. Put it aside and discuss it last
  2. Put it aside and don't discuss it at all
  3. Speak to the issue promptly and thoroughly
The correct answer is

c. Speak to the issue promptly.

British English and American English are not the same. When Americans ask someone to "table" an issue, we mean put it aside until it is brought up later. The British mean that it is important, so lay it on the table for immediate and thorough discussion.
If you are an American female professional, which color/s would you avoid wearing to a meeting with your Japanese client?
  1. Black
  2. Red
  3. Green
  4. Yellow
The correct answer is

d. Yellow

Colors have different meaning around the world. In this case the color yellow is reserved for the royal family.
You are at your first meeting with your potential Russian client. He asks you to sign a contract of cooperation. You would
  1. Speak to your attorney first
  2. Sign the contract
  3. Tell him that you can not sign any contract until business is at that stage
The correct answer is

b. You would sign the contract.

Your potential Russian client is wanting to see how interested you are in taking the business discussions.
What is the proper sake etiquette?
  1. Let your host serve you first
  2. Serve each other
  3. Sake is served cold and after the main course
  4. Sake is served at the end of the meal
The correct answer is

All except c.

Sake is warm and usually served before the meal. It is proper etiquette to serve each other. Your partner will motion to you with a bottle and say "Dozo." This is your cue that he would like to fill your glass. Lift your glass slightly from the table and extend it towards your partner. Hold your glass in your right hand with your left hand slightly touching the bottom or opposite side of the glass. Once filled, thank your partner by saying "Sumimasen" or "Dozo."
You are a single female conducting business with Mexicans. Which of the following would be crucial to your success:
  1. Have your senior advisor determine you expertise before you arrive on their soil
  2. Wear a fake engagement ring
  3. Telephone your client before you leave to visit with him
The correct answer is

a. and b.

Women are not perceived in the same way in many Latin American countries. In Mexico it would serve you well to have a senior executive inform your potential client of how you are valued within your country. Single women will have less distraction if they wear an engagement ring.
What does "nemawashi" mean?
  1. Undertake your plan independently
  2. Announce that you are in this stage of your negotiations
  3. Negate passion about your point of view
  4. Get as much opinion as possible and use it skillfully to achieve a positive outcome
The correct answer is

d. Nemawashi is often translated, "laying the ground work."

This doesn't cover all the aspects of the complicated communication process. If you get as much opinion as you can before your meeting you can use it in a skillful way in your presentation.
What is the proper etiquette when dining with your Japanese client?
  1. Leave rice in your bowl to indicate that you want more rice
  2. Eat at least two bowls of rice
  3. Pickles are eaten before you eat your rice
  4. Slurping your noodles is appropriate
The correct answer is

d. Slurping your noodles is an indication that you enjoyed your soup.

If you cannot slurp, and many Americans don't do this properly, just pick up the bowl and drink the soup. Do not drink all of it at one time. The soup should last as long as the rice.

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