Intercultural Communication: Working with Israelis

Elisa Moolecherry: Welcome to the Business Spotlight podcast for the 20th of December 2011. This is Elisa Moolecherry.

Today we take a look at working with Israelis. Germany has a special relationship with Israel — and a special responsibility. For historical reasons, some German business people are understandably nervous about working with Israelis. On the other hand, they see highly interesting business opportunities. Israel today offers a lively, fast-moving economy. It also has a large percentage of immigrants, who add their national identities to the cultural mix and their ideas to the business community. For more, we’d like to welcome Intercultural Communication expert Robert Gibson, and his guest.

Robert Gibson: This is Robert Gibson. Welcome to our intercultural communication section. Today I have with me Helge Eikelmann. Helge is the head of the federal office of the German-Israeli Economic Association, and today he’s going to talk about working with Israelis. What are the main business opportunities for foreign businesses in Israel?

Helge Eikelmann: I think all forms of investments in the field of life sciences, real estate, high-tech, new economy, these are very strong fields for business opportunities in Israel. Israel offers a really great pool of innovative ideas and technologies, and the lock-and-key principle applies to many different fields, like large companies often look for specific services or solutions that have just come up in Israeli start-ups.

Gibson: What advice would you give people from other cultures coming to work in Israel?

Eikelmann: Well, first of all prepare for hot weather —this is actually a problem for many German people coming to work in Israel. But, of course, I would say the most important thing is to be open and not trying to rely on your own business culture. I think especially the very direct, informal Israeli way of communication is a possibility, is a possibility to blend in very quickly. And Israelis love to get in contact with foreigners, you can establish new friends on the bus, or on the way to Eilat, to, when you’re trying to relax on the beach actually you could find many Israelis asking where you’re from, and then what’s your business is in Israel. So this is another great chance to find out more about society. And last, don’t insist on position, or title or anything like hierarchies since business culture in Israel allows discussions with everyone, including the CEO. And if an idea is worth it, they fight for it. And this is the greatest potential and I think that’s the best thing to get in contact with Israelis.

Elisa Moolecherry: Thank you, Robert! For more on working with Israel, turn to Business Spotlight magazine and audio 1/2012. You can read Robert Gibson’s blog on our website at www.business-spotlight.de. We hope you’ve enjoyed our podcast. Join us again next Tuesday. 

• Exercise: Arabic truths