Interactions with the Germans and the Swiss may seem easy, but it's important to understand their way of thinking and their approach to doing business.
Global teams can maintain their effectiveness by using the right communication tools, following good communication practices, working at building and maintaining trust, and taking cultural differences into account.
To become a leader people want to follow, focus on the team's objectives, avoid self-deception, build strong relationships, and enable others to achieve the team's goals.
Eastern Europe is a significant potential market for Western corporations. There are plenty of opportunities for success if you learn to do business in a way that meshes with Eastern European expectations of how business should be done.
Work-style and communication differences often result in a disconnect between managers and engineers. Bridging this culture gap will allow managers to make better business decisions and bring engineers the understanding and recognition they deserve.