5 Keys to a Successful International Sales Meeting

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When you're bringing together a sales team from around the world who represent different cultures and countries, what you do to energize the sales meeting can go a long way toward buiilding a strong corporate culture. Our experience on a successful meeting in Prague last week highlighted the keys to creating just such an event.

1. Hire an experienced, knowlegeable producer

The client retained ELLEN MICHAELS PRESENTS, INC. , out of Campbell, California to oversee the entire event: design, planning, theme, travel, hotel and logistics, staging and agenda. Their team has over 20 years experience in global corporate comunications, event management and production and, with months of pre-planning and a team of experts on site, all aspects of the meeting were executed flawlessly.

2. Select an attractive, convenient location

Prague was selected as a central location for the sales team - convenient for the European contingent and easily accessable to members traveling from the Far East and the Americas. The city itself is charming, steeped in history and not overwhelming in size. Plus, not incidentally, it's considerably less costly than London, Paris or Rome.

3. Create meaningful team building exercises

The Ellen Michaels team developed a clever team-building event that took full advantage of Prague. It was a scavenger hunt throughout the Old Town incorporating jaunts on the city's safe and efficient subways and tram systems and visits to the famous sites, ending up in an historic banquet hall for an evening's celebration.

4. Treat sales team members with respect

Respect their time by keeping general sessions and breakout meetings to their scheduled times. Respect the customs and cultures of sales team members by providing a wide selection of foods at meal functions. Allow time in the agenda for team members to check email and make phone calls. And, of course, recognize their accomplishments and contributions.

5. Incorporate humor, the universal language

Sharing laughter creates a powerful emotional bond among team members. For certain cultures where respect for authority goes unquestioned, self-depricating humor by the boss is a foreign - and refreshing - experience. Kronos created a hysterical video spoof of their CEO, featuring him as "The Most Interesting Man In The World" in a takeoff of the Dos Equis commercials. And the VP of Sales used our Corporate Sidekicks character "Willie Sellmore" throughout the general session and awards banquet. The audience's response was positive...and quite vocal. The use of humor demonstrated to the sales team that management is confident enough of themselves to enjoy doing business.