“I’m just plain Vernon Thatcher. Just relax and make yourself at home.” You noticed that the Asians appeared bewildered. They appeared even more bewildered when early in the meeting Mr. Thatcher made this statement: “We’ve only got the lunch hour, gents. I know you’ll appreciate getting right down to business.” Throughout the meeting Mr. Thatcher was in his best conversational mood-laughing, backslapping, telling jokes. But none of this seemed to make an impression on the guests. They seemed confused to you. They smiled and were extremely polite, but they seemed to understand little of what Mr. Thatcher was saying. Although he tried again and again to move to business talk ,they did not respond. The meeting ended pleasantly, but without a sale. “They’re a strange people,” Mr. Thatcher commented when he got back to his office. “They have a lot to learn about doing business. It doesn’t look they’re going to deal with us, does it?” Mr. Thatcher was right in his last comment. They did not. As you review the meeting. You cannot help but feel that Mr. Thatcher spoiled the deal, for he failed miserably in communicating with the Asians. The fact is that there is much to know about communicating in cross-cultural settings.
