Americans don’t understand when we say ‘no’ in a polite way. What can we do about it? Infosys’ NR Narayana Murthy suggests a practical way out. How can we help Indian team members if they don’t ask questions at meetings and later, we find they didn’t understand instructions? Kirthiga Reddy, CEO, Facebook India, throws light on the issue.

Murthy and Reddy’s answers are among the hundreds of questions and answers in the Indo-US Business Insights Book Make it in India authored by Ranjini Manian and Joanne Grady Huskey, founders of Global Adjustments, a premier relocation firm.

The book equips the reader with practical tips for improved business relationships. The tips include key business topics such as running effective inter-cultural meetings, interacting from a position of strength during negotiations and managing multi-cultural team.

The book features learning from 12 global CEOs from Infosys, Ford, Microsoft, Facebook, IBM, Tata-Starbucks, Eurasia Group, Nokia, Dow Chemical, Biocon, AZB & Partners and HSBC Bank.

“It is like a dinner conversation with the top 12 CEOs with many anecdotes from them,” said Manian. Culture impacts friendship; while friendship impacts business and business improves diplomacy. That’s the essence of the book, she told newspersons. The authors have nearly 20 years of experience working with two cultures – Indian and American – and intend the book as a powerful instrument for both nationalities to achieve a productive and valuable working relationship, she said.

The launch comes at a time when the Indo-US relations is peaking following the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US followed by US President Barrack Obama visiting India.

The book to be launched in Chennai on Friday is divided into ten chapters that are in a question and answer format. These questions are relevant for business people, students and for even for diplomats. “The questions in the book came to us in the last 20 years,” said Huskey.

Manian said there is a plan to come out with a series on Asian professionals considering that a large number of nationalities, including 4,000 Koreans, work in India.

In his foreword, Narayana Murthy said the avenues for greater trade relations between India and the US are becoming wider. “We are going to have to work more closely together. It is important for both countries to carefully nurture and strengthen relationships.”

At such a time, this book comes as a ‘powerful instrument to help people of India and the US achieve a comfortable and valuable working relationship,’ he said.

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW