Building Relationships for Successful Business in Mexico
If you have a U.S. company that wants to expand its business in Mexico, you should develop a strategy for doing business there. The strategy will require more than knowing the language, the diverse market, and the regulatory environment. It will require knowing how your company, no matter the size big or small, will build Mexican relationships that focus on understanding the people and their culture while engaging them successfully.
The goal in your corporate planning for international business in Mexico, or elsewhere, is to learn how to work well together despite the cultural differences.
This goes beyond researching the differences between doing business in the U.S. compared to doing business in Mexico. Even as ideas and influences converge and goods are exchanged, each side will have a distinctive character and a strong sense of identity.
Importance of strategy for communication and understanding each other
Understanding the character and identity of the Mexican people, and how they live and do business, will provide the foundation for your brand marketing. Having a strong brand that becomes known for building strong relationships is necessary for sustainable growth, no matter where you expand your business to.
In fact, a mistake that many companies make is not considering the importance of the Mexican identity. Their identity should not be perceived in the same context as it would for people in the U.S.
Different meanings for the same phrase
An example here is being on time. In the U.S., being on time means exactly what it says about the expected time. A meeting scheduled for 10:00am means arriving between 9:45am and no later than 10:00am. After 10:00am, you are considered late and disrespectful. However, in Mexico, being on time has leeway of maybe 20 to 30 minutes if you are meeting for business. If your company ships products, the meaning of being on time when it pertains to deliveries might also be interpreted with more leeway.
Different points of view
In addition, Mexicans reference their general location differently in directions. While Americans often think of location nation-wide in terms of east-west or coast to coast, Mexico is more of a north and south country.
But their different views are not only directional. Mexicans differ in their point of view by how they feel and in their opinions.
Did you know that Mexican business people sometimes consider Americans arrogant and blunt? They see Americans as prone to short-term relationships and cultural insensitivity. On the other hand, American businesspeople often complain that Mexican business is too bureaucratic and less sophisticated.
Understanding why these views exist can be significant in learning to work together. Seeking to build mutual respect and understanding for each culture is going to be a necessity.
Regional and cultural differences for business in Mexico
Americans often perceive Mexicans as harboring resentment at being forgotten and disregarded. Some of this might be because Mexicans are more aware of Americans. Therefore, considering how your business will specifically treat them is essential when preparing a strategic plan. The most important element to consider is Mexican culture; it cannot be forgotten, overlooked or undervalued.
Many companies in the U.S. have already transitioned into providing labels in both English and Spanish. Online websites have options for choosing the language. But what more can be done to bridge the regional and cultural gaps?
For example, think about how Latin cultures embraced color in traditional and meaningful ways. Consider patterns and symbols that are popular in Mexico. How do they embrace art? What do they think of food? How important are religion and family to them? What is the meaning of a phrase and when is it used?
Very important to note, is that all Latin cultures are not the same. Each culture holds its own identity, practices, beliefs and language.
The importance of Mexican relationships
The concept of unity in Mexico is especially important. While people in the U.S. think in terms of “I” and “we,” Mexicans think in terms of groups with “us” and “our.”
Family is the focus for Mexicans. Businesses in Mexico make many primary decisions based on family needs and responsibilities, while businesses in the U.S. tend to make their primary decisions based on information and profits, not on family responsibilities. This does not make one culture better than another, it just shows the differences in cultures.
In Mexican culture, this concept of inclusivity goes beyond family to creating strong allies. Mexicans have a sense of reliance on personal relationships that extends to more reliance on business contacts. They want to develop friendships. They see the U.S. as their neighbor, and value trade relationships with alliances as long-term goals. But they also want economic relations that are anchored in an equal growth of understanding and respect for each other’s culture.
The Mexican economy is booming and there is a lot to learn about their people and culture to do business successfully with them. If you are expanding your business into the Latin cultures of Mexico and Dominican Republic, contact The Chief Visionary, Natasha Davis, at Impact Branding Consulting to develop your Global Expansion Strategy.