From Panama to Peru

A few weeks back, I chatted with a friend about the importance of emotional intelligence and cultural dexterity. I recounted to her the many experiences I’d had on my business trips to Latin America and how the cultural norms varied depending on the country I was visiting.
I clearly remember how I adapted to the norms of the country or the customer I was visiting. In Panama, the meetings were a lot more animated and vocal. And, depending on the customer, the tone could become loud and lively. We had discussions that initially took humorous tones and then shifted into lively negotiations. And then, in Peru, I assumed the style of the quiet and serious professional who addressed customers in a softer manner, and the discussions were more reserved and less animated.
Having adaptability and respect for cultural norms, as well as adjusting to them, is a critical skill for those who work in the global arena.