Page 7 - CCCA Magazine Fall 2019

{ An ExPAT PERSPECTivE }

When in rome

By Patricia Osoko

A number of years ago, i went to Mexico with a team of men to at what I proposed to do. “It’s a legal docu-
fnalize a deal with a major european energy company. it was my ment, not a grocery list,” he said. Apparent-
ly in Spanish it is considered bad drafting
chance to prove myself on an international deal. i had prepared to use the same word twice in a sentence or
day and night. We strode into the meeting room, the men shook paragraph. I realized, once again, I was try-
ing to ft my cultural norm into a situation
hands, and i stuck out my hand as well. Then opposing counsel did where it was not appropriate.

something very unexpected: he kissed me solidly on the cheek. Maybe that is what I fnd most diffcult
about being a lawyer in another country.
I work for a Canadian company, so to a
n an instant, my confdence drained cluded me from the initial round of hand- certain extent I need to bring a Canadian
away. For the next few hours, I fum- shakes. But when the same man ignored perspective to the work I do. But I live in
ibled and stammered and was useless to my presentation, and instead, kept defer- a different culture, and it is not always my
my team. I couldn’t believe a stranger in ring to my colleagues, we didn’t have a job to show people a new way of doing
a business context would be so forward, proper backup plan. One colleague kept business or practising law.
so intimate. trying to include me in the conversation What I am learning is that cultural in-
That was my frst lesson on the impor- while the other fumbled to remember the telligence is a lot about humility, to being
tance of cultural training to be successful, points I was supposed to cover. I’m afraid open to differences and being wrong often.
all the time. But we managed to uncover “ I work for a Canadian company, so to a certain
as culture impacts not only day-to-day we came across as disorganized and de-
And to laugh and say “show me that again”
interactions but also operations and gov-
fensive, rather than professional.
instead of being offended or offering a
ernance practices.
When I returned to Mexico earlier this
year on a long-term assignment, one of
the frst things I requested was cultural
extent I need to bring a Canadian perspective to
coaching. Topic 1: Mastering the Mexican
kiss. The coaches were bemused. What
the work I do. But I live in a diferent culture, and
was the fuss? Everyone kissed everyone
some unspoken rules: women should nev- it is not always my job to show people a new way
er refuse a kiss but it’s okay to be remote of doing business or practising law.
when someone you consider inappropri-
ate kisses you. My husband should kiss my ”
female colleagues but not my boss’s wife As Canadians, we have more cultural “better” way. What I am learning is that
unless she indicates it is okay. It felt con- intelligence than other more homogenous there are many ways to get to a goal, and to
fusing, but one of the coaches gave me the countries, but I still fnd myself inadver- appreciate the kisses along the way. ❚
best advice ever: People respect you for tently drifting into comparing the foreign
trying. You won’t get it right every time, situation with how we do things at home.
so loosen up. It’s not about you. Recently, I was reviewing a foreign language Patricia Osoko is the Legal Director for ATCO
It’s also diffcult to overcome my own contract. Where we would defne a term México, where she supports operations in energy
infrastructure and modular construction, as well
cultural norms. I am reminded of another and use it consistently in a document, what as new growth opportunities. She also leads
meeting, this time in India. I was the team I found was every possible synonym for Silver Birch Innovations, where she studies and
leader, travelling with two men. I had “damages” sprinkled throughout. So I start- implements innovation and cultural transforma-
done my homework, so I wasn’t surprised ed to redraft the document. A law student tion through digital reinvention, policy and process
when one of the men across the table ex- intern walked in. He was genuinely alarmed restructuring. Connect with her on LinkedIn.

CAnADiAn CorporATe CoUnSeL ASSoCiATion | CCCA-ACCJe.org 7