Clearly languages will be important and particularly Mandarin. But language alone is not enough. Although we speak the same language as Americans that does not mean we always find it easy to do business with them. As a nation we are reserved whilst they are open;  they are direct whilst we tend to talk around a subject. Successful American-British trade partnerships are created by people from both nations who understand each other, and that understanding is often learned rather than innate.

Even more so between cultures that share neither a common language nor cultural heritage. Exporting to China is not just about us being able to speak their language, or vice versa. It is about cultural awareness; understanding local manners, appreciating the subtleties of communication, getting to grips with regional cultural, political and social issues.

Which is why so many employers today are looking for cultural awareness in the new staff they take on. They are looking for people who understand in general terms that different nations have different ways of doing things, and who have an in-depth understanding of specific cultures. Languages are important, but for us, since so many people across the globe speak English, cultural awareness is probably even more essential. Cultural training may well become next big thing on the corporate agenda. Put it on your personal development agenda.

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