COMMUNICATING COMMUNICATING INTER-CULTURALLYINTER-CULTURALLY

Learn local customs where you Learn local customs where you work and travel:work and travel:

BRAZIL:BRAZIL: GREETINGS: be demonstrative. Extended GREETINGS: be demonstrative. Extended

handshakes are common during the first handshakes are common during the first encounter. Titles such as Senhor (Mr.) and encounter. Titles such as Senhor (Mr.) and Senhora (Mrs.) precede the surname.Senhora (Mrs.) precede the surname.

MEETINGS: make appointments at least 2 MEETINGS: make appointments at least 2 weeks in advance, reconfirming within the week weeks in advance, reconfirming within the week that the meeting will happen. An aggressive that the meeting will happen. An aggressive business approach can seem offensive, so don’t business approach can seem offensive, so don’t expect to get right to the point at the first expect to get right to the point at the first meeting.meeting.

MEALS: business can be discussed during MEALS: business can be discussed during meals. Start with general subjects and meals. Start with general subjects and then get to the main topic.then get to the main topic.

GIFTS: gifts aren't required at the first GIFTS: gifts aren't required at the first meeting. Instead, buy lunch or dinner. meeting. Instead, buy lunch or dinner. Avoid gifts that are black or purple, the Avoid gifts that are black or purple, the colors of mourning.colors of mourning.

CHINACHINA

GREETINGS: Chinese nod or bow slightly, GREETINGS: Chinese nod or bow slightly, although handshakes are also common. Wait for although handshakes are also common. Wait for a hand to be extended. Precede names with a hand to be extended. Precede names with official, professional titles ( president, engineer), official, professional titles ( president, engineer), or Mr., Mrs., Ms., or Miss.or Mr., Mrs., Ms., or Miss.

MEETINGS: when entering a business meeting, MEETINGS: when entering a business meeting, the highest ranking member should enter first the highest ranking member should enter first and lead the discussion. Bring your business and lead the discussion. Bring your business card with a translation printed in Chinese on the card with a translation printed in Chinese on the reverse.reverse.

Business cards are usually presented and Business cards are usually presented and received with two hands. Make a point of looking received with two hands. Make a point of looking for a few seconds at a business card when its for a few seconds at a business card when its presented, repeating the giver’s name.presented, repeating the giver’s name.

MEALS: business lunches have become more MEALS: business lunches have become more popular, but evening banquets are still common. popular, but evening banquets are still common. If your host gives you a banquet, reciprocate. If your host gives you a banquet, reciprocate. Business isn't generally discussed during a Business isn't generally discussed during a meal, so be guided by the host. Avoid beginning meal, so be guided by the host. Avoid beginning to eat or drink before your host does. Lay to eat or drink before your host does. Lay chopsticks on the table. Its considered bad luck chopsticks on the table. Its considered bad luck to leave them standing. to leave them standing.

GIFTS: a gift from the company is GIFTS: a gift from the company is common at first meetings or special common at first meetings or special celebrations. Present the gift to the senior celebrations. Present the gift to the senior member of the group. Local crafts, member of the group. Local crafts, historical memorabilia, or illustrated books historical memorabilia, or illustrated books from your home country are appropriate. from your home country are appropriate. Gifts of clocks and umbrellas are Gifts of clocks and umbrellas are considered unlucky, along with items in considered unlucky, along with items in groups of four. White is the color of groups of four. White is the color of mourning. mourning.

EGYPTEGYPT

GREETINGS: at a first meeting, wait for your GREETINGS: at a first meeting, wait for your host to initiate the style of greeting.host to initiate the style of greeting.

A traditional greeting between men involves A traditional greeting between men involves grasping each other’s right hand and placing the grasping each other’s right hand and placing the left hand on the other’s right shoulder. left hand on the other’s right shoulder. Westernized Egyptian men shake hands with Westernized Egyptian men shake hands with men. Women should avoid offering a hand first. men. Women should avoid offering a hand first. Precede the surname with an official title or use Precede the surname with an official title or use Mr.., Mrs., or Miss. Egyptians speak at a close Mr.., Mrs., or Miss. Egyptians speak at a close distance, often with physical contact.distance, often with physical contact.

MEETINGS: business meetings start after MEETINGS: business meetings start after enquiring about one’s health and journey, and enquiring about one’s health and journey, and sometimes can be interrupted by phone calls, sometimes can be interrupted by phone calls, and visits from colleagues, friends and family. and visits from colleagues, friends and family. Coffee is often served upon arrival. Business Coffee is often served upon arrival. Business cards should be printed in Arabic on the reverse. cards should be printed in Arabic on the reverse.

MEALS: avoid eating everything on the plate. MEALS: avoid eating everything on the plate. Leave a little food as a sign that you’ve had Leave a little food as a sign that you’ve had enough.enough.

GIFTS: if you are invited to an Egyptian GIFTS: if you are invited to an Egyptian home, a gift of baked goods or chocolates home, a gift of baked goods or chocolates is appropriate. A gift of handicrafts is is appropriate. A gift of handicrafts is appropriate for senior officials or appropriate for senior officials or executives. executives.

UNITED STATESUNITED STATES

GREETINGS: use a firm handshake. When GREETINGS: use a firm handshake. When meeting someone for the first time, use a title meeting someone for the first time, use a title such as Mr.., Mrs., Ms. with the last name until such as Mr.., Mrs., Ms. with the last name until you are asked to do otherwise.you are asked to do otherwise.

MEETINGS: business is done more quickly than MEETINGS: business is done more quickly than in other cultures and often begins after a brief in other cultures and often begins after a brief exchange of informal talk. All attendees are exchange of informal talk. All attendees are encouraged to participate in the discussion.encouraged to participate in the discussion.

MEALS: business meetings are often held MEALS: business meetings are often held over lunch, with work continuing over lunch, with work continuing thereafter. Lunch is usually informal, and thereafter. Lunch is usually informal, and some foods such as sandwiches may be some foods such as sandwiches may be eaten with your hands. Take your lead eaten with your hands. Take your lead from the locals. from the locals.

GIFTS: business gifts are discouraged. If GIFTS: business gifts are discouraged. If you visit someone’s home, flowers or you visit someone’s home, flowers or plants are appropriate gifts.plants are appropriate gifts.

BRIEF OVERVIEW OF OTHER BRIEF OVERVIEW OF OTHER CULTURES:CULTURES:

FRENCH: French businessmen usually FRENCH: French businessmen usually choose to speak in French with choose to speak in French with businessmen from other countries. They businessmen from other countries. They are very cordial, and greet you both while are very cordial, and greet you both while meeting and parting by shaking hands, meeting and parting by shaking hands, embracing and kissing each other. embracing and kissing each other. Business is a serious and formal occasion Business is a serious and formal occasion for them. for them.

GERMANS:GERMANS:

German meetings are highly formal and German meetings are highly formal and scheduled much in advance. Punctuality is scheduled much in advance. Punctuality is of utmost importance. Germans take pains of utmost importance. Germans take pains in making themselves intelligible in English in making themselves intelligible in English too, if required. People are addressed by too, if required. People are addressed by their surnames. To show respect to senior their surnames. To show respect to senior men, address as “Herr”, and women as men, address as “Herr”, and women as “Frau”.“Frau”.

ITALIAN & SPANISH:ITALIAN & SPANISH:

Both take business occasions as part of Both take business occasions as part of social life. They are less formal than other social life. They are less formal than other Europeans. They are not fussy about Europeans. They are not fussy about punctuality at meetings. Personal welfare punctuality at meetings. Personal welfare and family matters may precede the and family matters may precede the business discussion. They freely accept business discussion. They freely accept hospitality and gifts without linking them hospitality and gifts without linking them with their business deals.with their business deals.

DUTCH:DUTCH:

Dutch businessmen speak English Dutch businessmen speak English fluently. Most of them are polyglots fluently. Most of them are polyglots ( speaking or writing in several ( speaking or writing in several languages.) they are relaxed in their languages.) they are relaxed in their approach to business meetings and approach to business meetings and personal relations.personal relations.

JAPANESE:JAPANESE: Generally greet US or UK people by shaking Generally greet US or UK people by shaking

hands, and not with a bow. hands, and not with a bow. You should offer and accept the business card You should offer and accept the business card

with both hands.with both hands. Always likes to maintain personal space. Hence, Always likes to maintain personal space. Hence,

never back slap or hold their elbow while never back slap or hold their elbow while chatting.chatting.

Do not embarrass a Japanese by insisting on a Do not embarrass a Japanese by insisting on a point to the extent that he has to say no to your point to the extent that he has to say no to your point/ offer. In Japan, saying no is considered point/ offer. In Japan, saying no is considered impolite.impolite.

Japanese consider giving gifts as an Japanese consider giving gifts as an important part of the business. A gift has important part of the business. A gift has to be keeping with the status of the to be keeping with the status of the person. Gifts in pairs are considered lucky person. Gifts in pairs are considered lucky like pen and pencil set, cufflinks. But not in like pen and pencil set, cufflinks. But not in fours- the word for death. fours- the word for death.

Do not send greeting cards to Japanese Do not send greeting cards to Japanese business acquaintances. Red cards in business acquaintances. Red cards in Japan are funeral notices. Japan are funeral notices.

ARABS:ARABS:

Are known for their warm hearted meeting and Are known for their warm hearted meeting and parting. they stick to their traditional way of parting. they stick to their traditional way of greeting both as hosts and visitors by saying greeting both as hosts and visitors by saying “salaamalayakum” (may peace be upon you), “salaamalayakum” (may peace be upon you), accompanied by a firm handshake.accompanied by a firm handshake.

To show greater warmth and closeness, an Arab To show greater warmth and closeness, an Arab visitor/ host may embrace you while placing the visitor/ host may embrace you while placing the right hand on the heart and the other hand on right hand on the heart and the other hand on your right shoulder and kiss you on both cheeks. your right shoulder and kiss you on both cheeks. Do not reciprocate his act, unless you are an Do not reciprocate his act, unless you are an Arab. Arab.

They seem to be never under pressure They seem to be never under pressure and do not mind your coming late to the and do not mind your coming late to the meeting.meeting.

Meetings for business are preceded by Meetings for business are preceded by social pleasantries.social pleasantries.