I’ve always been firmly on the Edinburgh side, and am known to mock my Glesga colleagues occasionally by slagging off their city (harmless fun to me – potentially seriously offensive to them :P ).
However I’m pleasantly surprised how the city has come on since I’ve last been there (I’ve only been once, and it was raining and the weather horrible, so we didn’t get the best impression at the time). It genuinely felt exciting and vibrant this time round, and I will come back (despite an average meal at an overhyped restaurant).
I can furthermore confirm that my professional, influencing business persona is developing well. I don’t have any pushy sales tactics or fake fucking self (i.e. false smiles, arse-licking, etc.). Instead, I’m trying to listen to the person and inputting honest opinion (backed up by facts and figures, knowledge and experience) to the proposed business, while at the same time developing a personal rapport. Germans in particular (and last night’s meeting was with Germans) can’t be fobbed off and you can’t give them bullshit. They like straight-talking and they trust people who do, and if you’re too pushy they may close off. They can smell a rat!
Despite my success last night, I admit that my sales persona wouldn’t work for the American market. Since I can’t fake well when someone irritates me, I’d find certain markets and cultures difficult to work with and be positive about, and I’d struggle if I had nothing in common with a person or generally was wary of the culture/what they represent.
It’s good in a way – know your strengths and weaknesses, and don’t try to do something that you’re not really comfortable with. For me, this means I’d never apply for a position where I’d have to deal with lots of Americans, or, for example, lots of Chinese businesses. I’d rather work with people and cultures that I have a natural affinity with – as last night has illustrated, it works, and it works very well.
Filed under: Career, Work, german | Tagged: Business, german, glasgow, Work
