Global Negotiation Resources

By Jeff Shekell- FEMBA 09C on Jun 16, 08

I taught English as a second language in the Czech Republic back in 2003. Although I wasn’t negotiating on a professional level, there were a number of characteristics I noticed regarding the Czech people.
Most of what is mentioned on the website regarding Czech culture seemed consistent with what I experienced. A few characteristics I would highlight include:
- The divide between the younger generation and those who have spent the majority of their adult lives under communist rule. The division is clear- younger generations are better positioned to take advantage of the privatization of CZ than their elders. Older generations appear to have a harder time shaking the old communist mold and find the changing world around them more difficult to reconcile. I was particularly stuck by the “herd-like” mentality which can be extremely frustrating when you’re not accustomed to it. Prague can be frustrating this way.
- Czechs as a people seem very indifferent, more realists than idealist. They’re history has taught them not to invest much in idealism. From the Germans to the Russians, the Czech people have been frequent victims to occupation in the 20th century. I remember a specific response from one of my private students I use to teach in the park near my apartment. I used the lyrics to John Lennon’s “Imagine” as practice on day thinking the subject matter might spark a deeper discussion about the possibilities of a different world. It didn’t go over so well. My student simply said the song was “okay” but too unrealistic. Although I like the work of John Lennon, I found my student’s frank response very refreshing and myself a little closer to the Czech mentality.
- Although Czech people are very proud of their culture, they’re also very curious about the West. They appear to be caught between a world they love and hate to see defiled by westernization, while at the same time intrigued by and attracted to the western world. I see this dilemma in a couple former students who are now dear friends. Married, both work for HP in Prague. They find it hard being Czech in all the traditional ways while finding themselves working more than 40 hours a week. The life they have become accustomed is only sustainable by parting with tradition and allowing work to invade their person life.
- Although Czechs seem cold when you’re just a stranger (much colder than most western Europeans in my experience), when you get to know them they suddenly become very warm. All of the private students I taught asked me to numerous outings- weddings, biking trips, single-engine plane rides, weekends at the cottage, festivals, concerts… The people I met through my students were all very warm as well. To this day, I’m still in frequent contact some of my former students.
- Czechs are not a gullible people. In a way they can seem frustratingly content compared to westerns. Save the ego, they’re not interested. Attempts to sell anything too hard, yourself included, won’t get you very far with the Czechs. It’s wise to just be yourself- not overly respectful, not overtly disrespectful.

As a gesture of respect to the national pride, don’t be hesitant t have a beer with your Czech counterparts. Pilsner was invented by the Czechs, not the Germans.