USA - Religion & politics in business

[Hubert B]

I have a new venture with a potentially significant market in the US. In preliminary activities I have been working with a potential partner. As can be expected with any partner there are strengths ans weaknesses. It has gradually emerged that this person is very forthright with his views on politics and religion. It seems he never heard of the principle of not mixing business with religion or politics, he actually mentions his views at every opportunity. As a European I find this pretty shocking and am inclined to end the partnership.

I am interested to find out what US business people think about this. The likely customers are US government organisations. Is a person who is "broadcasting" his political and religious views going to alienate people or might it actually be an advantage?

(please state if you are from US or have experience of working there when you reply)

 

[fisicx]

In the US politics and religion are baked into their psyche. I deal with a number of US business and everyone has views. I had one guy tell me we were weak in to UK for not allowing everyone to have a gun. Someone else wouldn’t work with me as I wasn’t a Christian.

 

[Hubert B]

Has it not dawned on people in the US that they half their customer base by not keeping stum?

 

[johndon68]

Has it not dawned on people in the US that they half their customer base by not keeping stum?

You are thinking about it as a non American, as Fisicx said, this is fundamental stuff for your average American and however bad it appears to be from this side of the pond, it is far, far worse once you actually get over there...

John

 

[Hubert B]

You are not addressing your comments to the original question. Worse in what way? Is working with someone like this a bad idea or a very bad idea?

 

[fisicx]

You are not addressing your comments to the original question. Worse in what way? Is working with someone like this a bad idea or a very bad idea?

Depends on how much communication you need to have with them. I just listened to the good old boy ranting about how great Trump was for 10 minutes then sealed the deal and never spoke to him again.

He paid his bills and was happy with the product I delivered.

 

[Chris Ashdown]

Try telling a old miner that Margaret Thatcher was right after all, In USA Trouble is the Christian faiths are only applied in church and outside church forget it, Same with politics totally opposite sides that can never have a middle road

 

[gerardboelsche]

I completely understand your feeling. Here in Europe, business and religion are not connected, and we don't like to mix our thoughts about business with our faith.

 

[Mark T Jones]

A broader version of this point is that business is very different in the Uk than the US. (and even between states in the US can differ wildly)

This is something that many businesses who are successful in the UK learn the hard way when they try to replicate their model into the US.