There is always a line that you need to be aware of, in every business relationship. I have had co-workers who were much too open with information. Some simply lacked the social skills of how to gauge the reaction of those they were speaking with. Others didn’t recognize the need to filter the intimate, personal details out of conversations with business acquaintances. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be an open book for all world to read – but don’t be an audio book on repeat; wait until you have an interested ‘reader’ and tell your story within the bounds of their level of curiosity.

Claire

When I’ve been doing buissiness in South Euorope people tend to be more personal and proud over their culture.

Dinner at their homes with wivees and children, before talking buissines over a cup of wine.

In Sweden we are more restrictive, is part of the culture.

But we are getting there, we have so much imigrants that have started their own buissineses and some of their culture have transfered to the Swedish way.

However, there is a much more strict hiarachy between owners, chifes and employees abroad than in Sweden.

But if you’r not yourself then you are everybody else, then why should I notice you if you’r not different?

I think this question is best answered by an other question:

When is it unprofessional to be you?

I’d say that some things should be personal, and some for buissiness.

You don’t want to bore your “normal” friends in for instance your personal facebook stream with your buissiness stuff and on the other hand maybe it’s not always a good idea to show your buissiness colleges every aspect of your private life.

So, how do I know when to be myself?

Well it depends on your position in your company, who you are speaking to and most important.. the situation.

However, we should never forget that buissines is made by people, not companies.

So is it unprofesional to be personal?

Well it depends om when and with whom.

but in the other hand, this is just my opinion….

I have been reading this blog since many days and it is an interesting an useful blog really. I am also a fan of livefyre, I became its fan when my friend Wiki told me about two weeks ago…! Since I own several blogs and I have placed hundreds of pictures streaming from filmbelichtung and I think that a blog without the best comment service is a dead blog. So I am switching towards livefyre within a few days.

Thanks