Indulgent Mexico

The discussion on long and short term orientation is an interesting one. The term was established by Hofstede in 1991 to create a fifth dimension of differences between national societies. Long term orientation is when you focus on and prepare for the future.  Countries who rank high on the long term orientation scale will value persistence, perseverance and focus on education as a way to prepare for the future. Long term orientation values time honored traditions. The opposite, short term orientation has a huge respect for tradition, national pride and fulfillment of social obligations. People who live in short term orientation countries also often have a high indulgence rate and live in the moment. They enjoy life’s pleasures such as fine dining and parties (PSU, 2020). Mexico, specifically has a long term orientation number of just 24, which is barely an average number. Mexicans definitely live for the moment and do not necessarily partake in long term planning.

Taking a deeper dive into certain aspects of Mexico, an effective way to conduct business within the country would be to leverage their communication style to your advantage. Mexicans tend to be indirect, subtle and non-confrontational. Instead of saying no, they will say maybe or we will see in effort to not disappoint of offend anyone. If you adapt to their indirect approach it can help strengthen business relationships. Family is a dominating factor of their daily life and the close ties between extended families and communities carries a major influence on individuals. From a business perspective, the importance of family is evident in many Mexican companies. Often, you will see various family members working for the same company.  Nepotism is common in the Mexican business culture and the importance of establishing trustworthy contacts is necessary for success in business.
Playing into their high indulgent attitudes, business breakfasts and lunches are a preferred way of conducting business in Mexico, as it emphasizes the more social aspect of the Mexican culture. These meetings can typically last three to four hours with not much of that time focused on a business discussion, but yet establishing a personal relationship. Do not be too aggressive while trying to seal a business deal as they may consider it rude.  Lastly, their sense of personal space is small and physical contact is not discouraged.

I have been fortunate to visit Mexico. Specifically, Cancun and Yucatan. Cancun is a definite party atmosphere with beautiful beaches and friendly natives. It was the place to be to let loose and have a good time. While in Yucatan, I took a ride to visit Chichen Itza. This is a breathtakingly beautiful site which contains the Mayan Ruins – a must see archaeological masterpiece. I was privileged to be able to actually climb to the top of the monument, something tourists can no longer do because of safety issues. Both visits were wonderful experiences and I am happy to have experienced a bit of the Mexican culture first hand.

References:

8 Things to Know About Doing Business in Mexico. (2020). Retrieved 28 October 2020, from https://flashglobal.com/blog/8-things-know-business-mexico/

Mexico – Hofstede Insights. (2020). Retrieved 28 October 2020, from https://www.hofstede-insights.com/country/mexico/

Pennsylvania State University (2020). Retrieved 28 October 2020, from https://psu.instructure.com/courses/2075490/modules/items/29697200