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She explains that business and social etiquette combine to make social skills and indispensable part of doing business. Respect for protocol and etiquette is deep-rooted in European, Asian, and Latin countries, much deeper than most Americans realize. Form, in many places, is more important than substance.
In selling to people from other countries, the correct gesture at the right moment can mean the difference between a sale and going home empty-handed. In entertaining guests from other countries, dining manners can define your personal images, which is closely linked with your company's image.
Your company's key to success in business dealings as well as personal relationships with persons from another country is thoroughness of preparations in learning about that country and its culture. A small mis-step can threaten or even destroy your marketing efforts in another country.
With American culture having gone global, some people from other countries may adopt American manners, but may still think in their native language and culture. Others cannot or will not adopt American ways, so you can't afford to leave them out of your company's plans for globalization.
BCL International Executive Protocol has an impressive Advisory Committee, whose members randomly participate in the training, including William Codus, former Deputy Chief of Protocol, U.S. Department of State in the administrations of Presidents Nixon, Ford and Carter.
Others on the Advisory Committee are Caroline Ahmanson, philanthropist and Vice Chairman of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, Peter Antoniou, President, Pomegranate International; Sherry Ferris, Protocol Professionals, and former Deputy Chief of Protocol, San Francisco; Marcia Wilson Hobbs,
former Chairman of Christie's West Coast Fine Arts Auction House; Richard Jacobs, international business consultant, formerly with Occidental Petroleum and an expert on Russia; Adrienne Medawar, President of Town Hall Los Angeles; Wanda L. Moore, author, motivational speaker, and an expert on African culture; Donn Morey, a government relations and business consultant to Japanese firms; Yolanda Nava, television journalist and author; Carl Terzian, Chairman of the Board of Carl Terzian Associates; Ronald T. Williams, Talon Executive Services and former Secret Service Protection Agent; and the Honorable William Wilson, former Ambassador to the Vatican in the administration of President Ronald Reagan.
Bee Canterbury Lavery opened and managed the U.S. Department of State Office of Foreign Missions in Los Angeles and served as Regional Director until 1994 when it became a Foreign Service post.
Prior to that assignment, she was Chief of Protocol for the City of Los Angeles in the administration of Mayor Tom Bradley. In 1994 she opened her own international consulting business, BCL International Executive Protocol. She has produced trade conferences and shows for Latin American and Asian countries and was a consultant to the BBC for the documentary, "Tales of the New Pacific." |
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