It is true that nastiness might come with some jobs. How can you know when things are going to go nasty? Is nasty inevitable sometimes? Many of us who are not nasty by nature often struggle with the question of can I achieve what I am supposed to by continuing to be kind?When you live in another culture where being naïve is seen as a weakness, it can be very difficult. Should you, when you find yourself in a bad situation, remain silent or change your strategy and become nasty like the situation you are in?
Dear Charlotte: I read your column very often and it has helped me in preparation for my business trip in April. I am scheduled to visit İstanbul in April to make an initial investigation on behalf of my company to determine if my company should open a branch there. After what recently happened in Haiti with the Americans who were charged for kidnapping children, I am nervous about my visit abroad. This is my first visit overseas and I am a rather naïve person and am afraid that I may read the situation wrong and be taken advantage of. After all, the Americans in Haiti thought they had a contact who was trustworthy and would give them the correct information -- and look what happened to them… Can you give me some tips? Marge R. (New Jersey)
Dear Marge: I can understand how you feel, but you must remember that your boss would not have given you this assignment if he did not think you could do it. It is very hard these days anywhere -- be it on your own turf or in another culture -- to read people and to determine their motives. Gone are the days when you could just know the person was someone of integrity.
Here are a few tips (and, as I have said, the first step has already been done!):
Choosing the right individual to make the initial investigation is very important. If possible, the person should be someone who is familiar with the other culture or has had some experience with that nationality. (In your case, you have been studying it by reading Today’s Zaman and doing other research.)
The person needs to be flexible, intelligent and interested in other cultures.
Don’t stay more than a couple of weeks.
You should go with two purposes: to find a niche for your company in the market and to assess the size of the market to determine if it is worth the company’s effort.
Try to make the right connections that will help your company set up a branch with little difficulty.
Herein lies the matter: Joint ventures are crucial to a foreign company’s success. Making proper connections with the right people is key. For both the Turk and for you, a one- time meeting is not sufficient to build on. Future trips to build the relationship are necessary.
You’ve heard the expression about the ugly American, haven’t you? Was the American really nasty or just naïve? You may remember the film “The Ugly American” (1963) with Marlon Brando, who played the ambassador to a country in Southeast Asia where civil war threatened a tense peace. Brando misreads the situation and becomes frustrated with progress (or the lack thereof) and breaks from his friend Deong, a local opposition leader. Furthermore, he ignores a foreman’s advice about slowing the building of a road and tries to muscle ahead. What price must the country and his friends pay for him to get some sense?
This brings us back to the question of nasty or naïve.
Forging associations with respected local individuals will help your company handle problems in Turkey. Mind you joint ventures, whether for humanitarian purposes or business achievements, do not guarantee success.
It is best to learn from the Haiti experience, where a Haitian lawyer described the 10 Americans as being “…innocents caught up in a scheme they did not understand.”
When you enter into any kind of partnership, it is best to keep your eyes open and trust your gut feelings.
Note: Charlotte McPherson is the author of “Culture Smart: Turkey, 2005.” Please keep your questions and observations coming: I want to ensure this column is a help to you, Today’s Zaman’s readers. Email: c.mcpherson@todayszaman.com
