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Leadership in Action
Small Canadian businesses have a real challenge growing internationally. Unlike large corporations that have established reputations and are well-known within the international arena, small companies struggle to even be acknowledged.
Also, large corporations can hire foreign agents to establish connections within other countries. These agents are familiar with the local cultures and usually know key people there. Smaller firms typically don't have the money or talent to do this, so they must do it themselves. Not only does this take them away from critical duties back home, but they must operate in an unfamiliar culture.
How can we do this most effectively? Stephen Miles of Harlequin Enterprises thinks the best way to approach this is to first understand how the culture of the country in question affects its communication style.
After accumulating more than two million Air Miles points and a plethora of passport stamps, Miles succinctly concludes that in order for small Canadian businesses to establish a successful presence in any foreign country, they "must adapt to the cultural structure of that country."
Every country has its own cultural traits. We in Canada see...