...UK office etiquette In Britain, people are very polite and reserved. They pay a lot of attention to manners and are extremely punctual. Knowledge about British culture and their etiquette plays a vital role in creating a good impression while doing business in Britain. * The British pays a lot of attention to their office attire. It is conservative for both men and women. Dark suits, usually black, blue and grey are well accepted. Men's shirts should not have a pocket. If shirts have pockets, it must be empty. Single colored or pattered ties must be worn. Striped ties are not well received. For women, a color doesn't matter, however their attire must maintain a conservative image. * English are slow decision makers. Hence, they must be given time to think and decide. * Punctuality is very important for the English. Hence, reaching early or late is not well accepted. * While greeting someone, a firm and confident handshake is a must. * Privacy is very important for the English. Hence, never delve in asking personal questions. * Never make an intense eye contact or physically touch a person in public. It is considered inappropriate. Even during conversations, seldom have eye contacts. * To signal that something must be kept a secret or confidential, always tap your nose. * Gift giving is generally not part of English business. US/Canada office etiquette Office etiquette varies from country to country. Get to know some office do's...
Words: 1574 - Pages: 7
...Making Friends in China SGT Robert, Wade H. SFC Franklin, Jeremy ALC 728-12 15 September 2012 Making Friends in China I. Public Life Displays of affection Greetings Dining In a person’s home In a restaurant Business Bargaining Saving Face Gifting Meanings Taboos SGT Robert, Wade H. SFC Franklin, Jeremy ALC 728-12 15 September 2012 Making Friends in China As with any culture to be successful in China socially, one needs to understand the manners and etiquettes that the culture follows. Many cultures have changed greatly over the centuries, but China’s remains very similar to its roots around the family and authoritarian. Unlike western cultures, much of the Chinese etiquette continues to be very rigid. Understanding and putting into practice the manners and etiquettes of Chinese culture will help a person to create new friendships, rather than enemies, and be accepted by more people within the country. These manners and etiquettes cover behavior in public, dining, conducting business, and even gift giving. In public Chinese people are very formal in their behaviors. Public displays of affection such as kissing, hugging, making eye contact, or hand holding are strongly discouraged; however, hand holding amongst friends of the same sex commonly occurs. Personal space is given very little concern within China, especially during national celebrations when most people go out, and the streets become very crowded from the largest cities to...
Words: 1219 - Pages: 5
...France, HR Etiquette Gary Smith MSA 604 Admin, Global & Multiculturalism 22272474 DR. Richard L. Hayes August 9, 2015 France is a modern European state and a republic, the capital of France is Paris, and is one of the world's top five economies. France official language is French, and official currency is Euros. Breton and Alsatian languages, according to about-france.com, are making a comeback. France is the largest country in the European Union, stretching from the North Sea to the Mediterranean. Lowland France consists of four river basins, the Seine in the north, the Loire and the Garonne flowing westwards and the Rhône, which flows from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean Sea. France has an advanced industrial economy and an efficient farm sector. France has produced some of the continent's most influential writers and thinkers (About-france.com, 2015). Many of today’s French regions are in check with the provinces of pre-revolutionary France. These areas even share the same name. Other areas are different and include historic regions, such as Normandy. The 22 regions in Metropolitan France include Continental France and the island of Corsica. There are also five overseas regions. Each region has extensive posers in transportation, infrastructure, the economy, education and tourism. Each region works hard to maintain and develop their own identities. The French government plans to reduce the regions in 2016 from 22 to 13 as was adopted by the French Parliament...
Words: 2717 - Pages: 11
...Calls March 21, 2011 Judgment Calls 1. A colleague, an amateur pilot, shows up at a critical meeting with some Japanese executives wearing a tie adorned with pictures of a P51D Mustang escorting a B-29 Superfortress (the Mustang is a World War II fighter and the Superfortress is the type of plane that dropped the atomic bombs on Japan at the end of World War II). If the colleague showed up before the meeting, the first thing would be to pull him to the side and explain to him that the tie he is wearing is not appropriate for a meeting with Japanese executives. I would further explain that in any type of meeting, especially critical ones, first impressions are very important. For the Japanese, casual attire is not appropriate for a business meeting. Men should wear dark conservative attire and according to their status and position, this will impress the Japanese. (Williams, 2008) If the colleague shows up during the meeting I would immediately apologize to the Japanese for the attire that my colleague is wearing and that by no means is it meant to show any disrespect. In Japan apologizing is considered a virtue. This shows them that we are willing to take responsibility and avoid blaming others for any mistakes that we make either purposely or unwittingly. When apologizing I will be bowing deeply to show that I am really very sorry. (Abe, 2011) To summarize, none of the scenarios should have happened if I had done my due diligence I would have prepared for it as well as...
Words: 1428 - Pages: 6
...GLOBAL PROTOCOL AND CORPORATE ETIQUETTE The importance of the global protocol and corporate etiquette were emphasized during last Saturday’s session. These topics are important since both the business and political worlds have become more global and that relationship selling has become a must for success. It can make or break businesses and political relationships among nations. This importance is even greater for international, multi-cultural enterprises operating in different industries. Face to face contacts are still important in business relations despite tremendous developments in technology. International travels are more frequent than before and this results cross-cultural interaction more intense than in the past. International protocol is commonly described as a set of recognized and generally accepted system of international courtesy. “In Rome, we must do as Rome does”. This is an old English proverb telling the importance of etiquette in travel. The traditions about eating, drinking, dressing, introducing, using titles differ in different parties of the world. Even in close geographies peoples differ in protocol and etiquette. When there are cultural differences, sometimes there are cultural shocks as well. For this reason, adaptation to other cultures and developing a flexible attitude is necessary. An interesting part of the introductory lecture was about flags. A flag symbolizes a nation or a country. It is important to know how it...
Words: 759 - Pages: 4
... Doing business in a foreign Country can be a very difficult thing to do if you are not familiar with proper business etiquette in the Country in which you are doing business. It also helps to have a good understanding of family life and the culture, ad well as social customs in the new country. This report will tell you, our valued employee’s, how to be successful in Spain, the home of our newest expansion branch. The figure to the left shows the current trends in the unemployment rates in Spain compared to the US, Portugal, and the UK. It is very important with the constant rise in unemployment in Spain that you go to the new branch prepared and therefore everything in this report should be considered important. Business Etiquette The first thing that you need to know when doing business in Spain is how to properly introduce yourself in a business setting. The most common and accepted way to professionally introduce yourself in a business setting in Spain is with a firm handshake with direct eye contact being kept throughout the gesture. Men should wait for women to extend an offer to shake hands if she wishes. When verbally addressing people in the business setting “Try to address people by their title and last name until invited to do otherwise.” (Coleman, 2011) For people in Spain, calling them by their title and last name is a sign of respect and this will go along way with them. These are two small things that will gain you the respect of your business partners...
Words: 1624 - Pages: 7
...Business Etiquette Author’s Name Institutional Affiliation Introduction Amazingly, American companies are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to send their managers to etiquette seminars—often $2500 a day—to help them learn how to mind their manners in a variety of business situations (Buhler, 2000). Over 50% of the business transactions are closed over a meal? If you’re focusing on how to eat, you may have trouble focusing on the business at hand! Today, I’m going to talk to you about why knowledge of business etiquette is important. Major Point 1: Why a Knowledge of Business Etiquette is Important Recent economic conditions have brought changes to the function of all employment with layoffs occurring in fields that have traditionally experienced shortages (Kermis and Kermis, 2010). With the increased difficulty in getting a job—along with the increased difficulty of keeping a job—the importance of soft skills has similarly increased. Even in the field of accounting, technical skills, while certainly critical, are not enough for a …”career that includes an individual’s selection, retention and advancement” (Kermis and Kermis, 2010, p. 1). Acquiring these important soft skills will help create a polished professional presence regardless of your career field. Soft skills include knowledge of business etiquette, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to handle difficult situations, adaptability to change and diversity (Marsh, 2012). Soft skills are a blend...
Words: 1218 - Pages: 5
...Doing Business in India India is a richly diverse and complex country. Regionalism, religion, language and status are all factors that need to be taken into account when doing business in India. Behaviour, etiquette and approach are all modified depending on whom you are addressing and the context in which they are being addressed. By tailoring your behaviour and approach to doing business in India you maximise the potential of your visit. Indian Society and Culture Language Different states in India each have different official languages. Central government only recognises Hindi as the official language of India. However, when doing business in India, English is the language of international commerce. Hierarchy * Indians are always conscious of social order and their status relative to other people, be they family, friends, or strangers. * All relationships involve hierarchies. The boss is seen as the source of ultimate responsibility in business. Every relationship has a clear- cut hierarchy that must be observed for the social order to be maintained. The Role of the Family * People typically define themselves by the groups to which they belong rather than by their status as individuals. Someone is deemed to be affiliated to a specific state, region, city, family, career path, religion, etc. * Indians maintain very close family relationships. The extended family creates countless interrelationships, rules, and structures. Along with these mutual...
Words: 1381 - Pages: 6
...Kuwait; on the east by the Persian Gulf and Qatar; on the southeast by the United Arab Emirates and Oman on the south by the Republic of Yemen; and on the west by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba. The southeast and southern boundaries are not precisely defined. The Middle East, bordering Iraq 814 km, Jordan 744 km, Kuwait 222 km, Oman 676 km, Qatar 60 km, UAE 457 km, Yemen 1,458 km Capital: Riyadh Climate: harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes Population: 25,795,938 including 5,576,076 non-nationals (July 2004 est.) Ethnic Make-up: Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10% Religions: Muslim 100% Government: monarchy Language in Saudi Arabia Arabic is the official language of Saudi Arabia, but English is widely spoken. It is used in business and is a compulsory second language in schools. Among the non-Saudi population, many people speak Urdu, the official language of Pakistan, and other Asian languages such as Farsi and Turkish. Arabic is spoken by almost 200 million people in more than 22 countries. It is the language of the Qur'an, the Holy Book of Islam, and of Arab poetry and literature. While spoken Arabic varies from country to country, classical Arabic has remained unchanged for centuries. In Saudi, there are differences between the dialects spoken in urban areas and those spoken in rural areas. Saudi Society & Culture Islam Islam is practised by all Saudis and governs their personal, political, economic and legal lives. Islam was born in Saudi Arabia and thus...
Words: 4035 - Pages: 17
...Etiquette Etiquette is the way a person presents himself to others, being comfortable and making other people around comfortable. Knowing and using proper business etiquette is very important, because it can get you one step closer to your dream job or your dream client.Implementing proper etiquette and protocol skills into everyday life should be habit for everyone. After all, a person who displays proper etiquette not only feels good about himself, he also makes those around him feel important and respected. 1. Phone call Proper business phone etiquette can make a positive impression on your callers. It will help you and your employees create a business phone culture in your company that your customers and business associates will enjoy using. If your company does not require a scripted greeting, answer the phone with your name. Your caller may tell you his or her name after you provide yours. Or, the caller may start telling you the purpose of the call. If your caller does not provide his or her name in the first few sentences, ask for it. Knowing the caller’s name is important because it makes callers feel they are respected. 2. Email Right now, more and more companies have realized how important their email communications are. However, many companies send email replies late or not at all, or send replies that do not actually answer the questions you asked. Here are some tips that can make your company has the excellent email communication skills. An email reply must...
Words: 1038 - Pages: 5
...History and Facts of Mexico Mexico is the third largest country in Latin America and now has the largest population of Spanish speakers in the world. Keep in mind, however, that Spanish was not always the primary language of the native people. Before the Spanish influence, many different native tribes inhabited the country; each of them speaking their own dialect. Some of the more popular dialects were the Mayan dialect and the Náhuatl dialect. The northern tribes, known to be the Chichimecs, were hunters and gatherers. They were small, more isolated groups who roamed the dryer lands of the deserts and steppes. The agricultural tribes inhabited other regions of the country and allowed larger populations in their surroundings. Included in these agricultural tribes were the Mayans of the Yucatan, Totonac, Huastec, Zapotecs, Tlaxcalans, Aztecs, and others tribes. These tribes developed civilizations with highly structured temples used for religion, sacrifices, commerce, and their form of government. The Aztecs even used a sort of tribute system to collect taxes and treasures from conquered tribes. The well known symbol of the Aztecs was an eagle with a snake in its beak resting on a cactus. This Aztec symbol has become the national symbol of Mexico. In 1519, the Spanish explorer Hernán Cortés, sailed along the eastern gulf coast and anchored off the island of San Juan de Ulúa. Over 500 Spanish soldiers stepped foot on the land, bringing with them a new animal species...
Words: 2093 - Pages: 9
...is very different than the culture in the United States of America and business meetings require preplanning if they are going to be successful. * How should you handle the introduction, greeting, and handshaking? Although in the Chinese culture, a nod and slight bow is a general way of greeting, Chinese business men are comfortable with a handshake. Address the most Senior Chinese person in the room first, and introduce yourself as you shake hands. Remember that in the Chinese culture it is a sign of respect if they shake your hand softly and do not make eye contact. In Chine, the family name comes before the given name, and calling someone by his name is considered disrespectful unless you are close to the person. If the person’s name is Wang Lee, it is appropriate to address him as Mr. Want. If Mr. Wang is the chairmen of the organization, you would address him as Chairman Wang. (Chinese Business Etiquette, 2014) * How do you exchange business cards? Business cards are exchanged at every opportunity. Engraving your cards in gold and printing in Chinese on one side and English on the other side is encouraged. As with introductions, when you are exchanging business cards, remember to start from the senior most person in the meeting. When you receive a business card from a Chinese associate, accept it with two hands and read it before you place it in your pocket. (Chinese Business Etiquette, 2014) * How do you explain your position and your boss’s position...
Words: 630 - Pages: 3
...Kimberly Lepkowski Business Dining AB224-01 Unit 1 Professor Enrico DiGiammarino August 28, 2012 Business Dining Your boss calls you into his office and explains to you explains to you that he is going to be out of town and you have to entertain the most important client in the company at a business dinner. Are you going to know how to act? You know that you have to find something to wear, do you dress casually or more business-like? What types of conversations do you bring up? This is just a few of the things I am going to discuss. I. How to choose the restaurant When you go to choose the restaurant, try and choose one you are familiar with and one that you have been to before. If travel is necessary to get to the restaurant that you choose, remember that it is better if you have to travel further then your guest. Tipping the head waiter will allow you to be recognized and may result in better service. II. Arriving at the restaurant When arriving at the restaurant, be sure you are the first one there. Being the first one to arrive at the restaurant can ensure you get the table you want. It can also allow you to speak to your waiter about the bill so there is no commotion about who pays the bill after the meal. As your guests are arriving try to be standing by the door so you can greet each guest by name and give a firm handshake as you are saying hello, this will let your guests know that they are important to you. III. Table manners a. When...
Words: 824 - Pages: 4
...Johnson and myself as Mrs. Fowler. I will not attempt to introduce myself as it would be considered rude. We will wait for him to initiate a handshake at which time my boss will first shake his hand gently and then myself. How do you exchange business cards? Following the introduction it is expected exchange of business cards. It is important to have business cards that are printed on sides; one in English, the other in Chinese. These should include: Company Name, Personal name, title, fax and email. They should be clean, neat and printed in gold lettering. The exchange will occur one at a time standing up and holding the card on the corners with both hands with the Chinese side up. You will hand your card carefully showing him respect, you will show the same respect when accepting his card. Once I receive the card I will need to study it prior putting it on the table, showing interest by reading the details; if I had collected more than one business card, I would line them up in vertically in order of seniority going down on the table (NBC Universal, Inc, 2008). The culture coach informs me that they should never go into a pocket, get written on and that showing up without business cards could possibly cause irreparable damage to the business relationship. How do you explain your position and your boss’s position? Provide job description information to explain the positions and how they fit into the organization. Provide information about our educational backgrounds and experience...
Words: 807 - Pages: 4
...During the 20th century the Mexican culture has changed rapidly. The contemporary life in the biggest cities has, in many ways, become similar to United States and Europe. However, most Mexican villagers follow the older way of life more than the city people do. There are a few etiquettes that are valid around Mexico when it comes to social relationship, greeting, dining, attire, opposite sex, shopping, and bargaining. In Mexico, the greeting and meeting formalities are very important, it is considered rude to fail to follow social protocols. It is essential to use physical contact to build trust and respect with others. Mexicans often hold a gesture (hug or handshake) longer than Americans and Canadians do. In social situations man shake hands until they know someone well, then they progress to more traditional back slapping and hugs. When women greet each other in social situations they usually do not shake hands, instead pat each other on the right forearm or shoulder. Men bow when greeting a woman in Mexico, and shake hands only if she extends her hand first. But, in business situations women usually offer a handshake. Mexicans are all about physical contact, it is essential. Dining etiquette in Mexico is important to follow if ever dining at a restaurant or in a Mexican home. When dining at Mexican´s home its necessary to remember to always show up 30 minutes or later in most places. Because arriving on time or earlier than planned is considered inappropriate. If you...
Words: 885 - Pages: 4