Business Etiquette: Eastern & Southern Europe

BUSINESS ETIQUETTE AROUND THE WORLD Eastern & Southern Europe Eastern Europe Initial meetings between potential business partners is often very reserved Punctuality is expected and meetings will always be on time While business is more formal, personal relationships do play an important role Russia Though 75% of Russia's territory lies in Asia, over 75% of its population lives in Europe IN GREETING... Always remove your gloves before shaking hands The act of exchanging business cards should always be observed Russians take great pride in their country, and speaking some Russian will earn you friends npuBer! No! "No" is a common response, but it doesn't always mean "no"-you must continue to negotiate to get what you want A deal is not complete until a contract has been signed Poland With the 2nd largest economy in Eastern Europe, Poland managed to avoid much of the financial crisis and is a great place for business FORMALITY IS KEY As formalities are important, always address your associates by their official/professional title Communication is very direct and straightforward, but a balance must be maintained between directness and diplomacy Business meetings will rarely stray from the set agenda HELPFUL HINTS Poland is often classified as a Central European country, and many Polish people prefer that! Southern Europne VIP Shaking hands and kissing cheeks is greetings Family is extremely important, and so business is very personal Gift giving to business associates and hosts is Trust is often considered more important than expertise common expected II Greece Greece has fallen on tough economic times, but it still remains a vibrant country with a unique culture and business style MEDITERRANEAN FLAVOR Business is often conducted over meals or coffee, and socializing and small talk is very important Punctuality is less important, but foreigners are expected to be on time Greeks tend to dress less formally than other European countries, but great value is place on a professional first impression GREEKS ARE VERY DEMONSTRATIVE AND PASSIONATE IN NEGOTIATIONS bla. OK! OK! OKỊ Consensus is also very Contracts in Greece are Meetings are a place to express personal opinions important; meetings may be long or rescheduled many times often open-ended Turkey Turkey is another transcontinental country; most of it lies in Asia, but it has strong ties to Southern Europe Polite and courteous conversation is expected and essential to good business dealings in Turkey ISLAM IS THE LARGEST RELIGION IN TURKEY AND AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE CULTURE Do not give alcohol as a gift Businesswomen may want to dress more conservatively PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE! First meetings will be about building a relationship with a new partner, rather than official negotiations In family owned businesses you may be introduced to younger family members first, and must work your way up to the "head." Sources .: TøllFreeForwarding.com BUSINESS WITHOUT BORDERS http://www.internations.org/guide/all http://www.ediplomat.com/np/cultural_etiquette/cultural etiquette.htm http://www.worldbusinessculture.com/businesswithothercountries.html http://www.tollfreeforwarding.com/blog/lostintranslation6waystoloseaninternationalcustomer/ I gryffin. CR