5 Ways To Make Your Business’ Overseas Collaborations Stronger

The general sentiment in the press is that businesses are turning to more regional and local sourcing post-pandemic. However, research at NYU on the “depth” of globalization suggests international trade is not only strong — it has actually exceeded pre-pandemic levels.

Businesses are using overseas partners more than ever for a variety of reasons. Unfortunately, not all of these collaborations are as successful as they could be. Differences in language and time zone are far from the only factors that can complicate international partnerships.

Fortunately, by focusing on some tried and true tactics, you can ensure that no matter where in the world your partners are located, you can achieve thriving, effective collaborations.

1. Develop A Defined Strategy For Overseas Partnerships

Because working with overseas partners often requires additional effort and coordination, you must have a clearly defined strategy in place before you begin seeking out these collaborators. Your collaboration strategy should help you determine not only which types of partners are best suited for your business, but also which geographic areas are the best fit for expanding your business or entering into collaborative partnerships.

Relying on local input and expertise can be especially helpful in navigating these issues, particularly when it comes to concerns like how local laws and regulations could influence your partnership.

You should carefully consider what attributes you’re looking for in an overseas partner, as well as what tasks or responsibilities you will need their assistance with. This will help you identify partners who have the necessary skills to address your business needs.

2. Ensure Cultural Fit

Working with overseas partners naturally means you will be working with people who come from a different cultural background than your own. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t strive to achieve cultural fit in terms of your business partnerships.

As I’ve written for the Harvard Business Review, cultural fit is a critical success factor in all partnerships. To maximize your chances for successful collaboration, you and your overseas partners should have similar perspectives on how your organizations will work together, communicate and make decisions.

As part of this process, I recommend that organizations perform the compatibility and trust assessment developed by Dr. Karl Manrodt and Dr. Jerry Ledlow. By measuring the relational components of focus, communication, team orientation, innovation and performance trust, you and a potential partner can ensure you are a good cultural fit.

3. Establish Communication Norms That Work For All

Communication is an essential aspect of cultural fit in any strategic partnership — but it can be understandably challenging when working with an overseas partner. The greater the physical distance (and time zone difference), the harder it can become to coordinate communications.

As Dheeraj Bhargava, a recognized leader in business operations who currently works at Apple in India, explained during a recent conversation with me, “The potential challenges of communication in overseas partnerships are why it is so important to clearly establish your practices right at the start. Both sides should try to minimize friction for the other as much as possible.”

He adds, “Email and online messaging can be convenient, but for circumstances where face to face meetings are required, being mindful of everyone’s schedules and needs is key. This helps establish a dynamic of respect that makes collaboration much easier.”

4. Improve Your Own Understanding Of Other Cultures

While you should ensure that you and your partner organizations share similar cultural values, you must also strive to understand the cultures of the people you partner with.

For example, research has found that when it comes to establishing trust with business partners from other cultures, North Americans and Europeans prioritize openness. On the other hand, East Asian cultures prioritize competency, while Middle Eastern and South Asian cultures emphasize respect. In Latin American cultures, business leaders often look for partners with similar social values.

In addition to understanding these cultural differences for assessing trust, understanding different cultural norms and traditions can also help you form stronger relationships with your international partners. Some cultures emphasize formal titles and greetings and value direct communication. Others are more casual in their approach. Understanding the perspective of overseas collaborators can help you avoid misunderstandings.

5. Always Try To Build Trust

Even if you’re not able to meet face to face, you should always look for ways you can continue to build trust with overseas collaborators. You must be consistent and reliable with the promises you make as part of your partnership. This entails being proactive in how you communicate, delivering on your responsibilities and taking accountability for your actions.

Don’t be afraid to seek feedback from your partners. This can be especially important when different cultural perspectives result in miscommunications or other setbacks. Honestly seeking feedback and implementing it shows that you value your overseas partners and that you want to grow and improve for the long-term success of your collaborative efforts.

Building Stronger Collaborations

While working with overseas collaborators can introduce a few added challenges beyond what you’d experience with a domestic strategic partnership, these collaborations can have an undeniable impact on your business. From expanding the scope of available talent to helping you launch your products or services in a new market, these collaborations can dramatically improve your bottom line and help you achieve your business goals.

By giving these collaborative partners the attention and respect they deserve and doing your due diligence from the moment you prepare to enter an international partnership, your opportunities for success and growth will expand exponentially.