| Guidelines to help you find your way
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| | a light handshake. Germans offer a firm
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| through the maze of international
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| | shake with one pump, and the French grip
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| etiquette rules that apply whether you
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| | is light with a quick pump. Middle
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| work on-line or in an office.
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| | Eastern people will continue shaking your
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| To say that today's business environment
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| | hand throughout the greeting. Don't be
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| is becoming increasingly more global is
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| | surprised if you are occasionally met
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| to state the obvious. Meetings, phone
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| | with a kiss, a hug, or a bow somewhere
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| calls and conferences are held all over
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| | along the way.
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| the world and attendees can come from any
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| | Using titles and correct forms of
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| point on the globe. On any given
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| | address: We are very informal in the
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| business day you can find yourself
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| | United States and are quick to call
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| dealing face-to-face, over the phone, by
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| | people by their first name. Approach
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| e-mail and, on rare occasions, by postal
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| | first names with caution when dealing
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| letter with people whose customs and
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| | with people from other cultures. Use
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| cultures differ your own. You may never
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| | titles and last names until you have been
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| have to leave home to interact on an
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| | invited to use the person's first name.
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| international level.
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| | In some cases, this may never occur. Use
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| While the old adage "When in Rome, do as
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| | of first names is reserved for family and
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| the Romans do" still holds true, business
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| | close friends in some cultures.
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| clients and colleagues who are visiting
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| | Titles are given more significance around
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| this country should be treated with
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| | the world than in the United States and
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| sensitivity and with an awareness of
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| | are another important aspect of
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| their unique culture. Not to do your
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| | addressing business people. Earned
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| homework and put your best international
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| | academic degrees are acknowledged. For
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| foot forward can cost you relationships
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| | example, a German engineer is addressed
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| and future business. One small misstep
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| | as "Herr Ingenieur" and a professor as
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| such as using first names
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| | "Herr Professor". Listen carefully when
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| inappropriately, not observing the rules
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| | you are introduced to someone and pay
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| of timing or sending the wrong color
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| | attention to business cards when you
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| flower in the welcome bouquet can be
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| | receive them.
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| costly.
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| | Exchanging business cards: The key to
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| There is no one set of rules that applies
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| | giving out business cards in any culture
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| to all international visitors so do the
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| | is to show respect for the other person.
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| research for each country that your
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| | Present your card so that the other
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| clients represent. That may sound like a
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| | person does not have to turn it over to
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| daunting task, but taken in small steps,
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| | read your information. Use both hands to
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| it is manageable and the rewards are
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| | present your card to visitors from Japan,
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| worth the effort. Keeping in mind that
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| | China, Singapore, or Hong Kong. When you
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| there are as many ways to do business as
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| | receive someone else's business card,
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| there are countries to do business with,
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| | always look at it and acknowledge it.
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| here are a few tips for minding your
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| | When you put it away, place it carefully
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| global P's and Q's.
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| | in your card case or with your business
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| Building relationships: Few other people
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| | documents. Sticking it haphazardly in
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| are as eager to get down to business as
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| | your pocket is demeaning to the giver. In
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| we Americans. So take time to get to
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| | most cases, wait until you have been
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| know your international clients and build
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| | introduced to give someone your card.
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| rapport before you rush to the bottom
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| | Valuing time. Not everyone in the world
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| line. Business relationships are built
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| | is as time conscious as Americans. Don't
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| on trust that is developed over time,
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| | take it personally if someone from a more
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| especially with people from Asia and
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| | relaxed culture keeps you waiting or
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| Latin America.
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| | spends more of that commodity than you
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| Dressing conservatively: Americans like
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| | normally would in meetings or over meals.
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| to dress for fashion and comfort, but
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| | Stick to the rules of punctuality, but
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| people from other parts of the world are
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| | be understanding when your contact from
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| generally more conservative. Your choice
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| | another country seems unconcerned.
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| of business attire is a signal of your
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| | Honoring space issues: Americans have a
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| respect for the other person or
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| | particular value for their own physical
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| organization. Leave your trendy clothes
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| | space and are uncomfortable when other
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| in the closet on the days that you meet
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| | people get in their realm. If the
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| with your foreign guests.
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| | international visitor seems to want to be
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| Observe the hierarchy: It is not always
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| | close, accept it. Backing away can send
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| a simple matter to know who is the
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| | the wrong message. So can touching. You
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| highest-ranking member when you are
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| | shouldn't risk violating someone else's
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| dealing with a group. To avoid
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| | space by touching them in any way other
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| embarrassment, err on the side of age and
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| | than with a handshake.
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| masculine gender, only if you are unable
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| | Whether the world comes to you or you go
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| to discover the protocol with research.
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| | out to it, the greatest compliment you
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| If you are interacting with the Japanese,
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| | can pay your international clients is to
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| it is important to understand that they
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| | learn about their country and their
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| make decisions by consensus, starting
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| | customs. Understand differences in
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| with the younger members of the group.
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| | behavior and honor them with your
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| By contrast, Latin people have a clear
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| | actions. Don't take offense when
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| hierarchy that defers to age.
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| | visitors behave according to their norms.
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| Understanding the handshake: With a few
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| | People from other cultures will
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| exceptions, business people around the
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| | appreciate your efforts to accommodate
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| world use the handshake for meeting and
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| | them and you will find yourself building
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| greeting. However, the American style
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| | your international clientele.
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| handshake with a firm grip, two quick
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| | (c)2005, Lydia Ramsey. All rights in all
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| pumps, eye contact and a smile is not
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| | media reserved. Reprint rights granted
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| universal. Variations in handshakes are
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| | so long as the article and by-line are
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| based on cultural differences, not on
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| | reproduced intact and all links are made
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| personality or values. The Japanese give
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| | live.
|
