Business Etiquette for International Travellers. Cultural Sensitivity and Awareness Tips for Business Travellers. Build Trust and Relationship for your Business.

July 15, 2009 by kutenk
Filed under: Business Etiquette 

International Business Etiquette As business has become more global, traveling abroad is now a necessity. While we are getting more sophisticated about doing business internationally, we still have a long way to go in becoming more globally sensitive and in effectively building relationships with other cultures. Cultural sensitivity doesn’t mean just learning a few phrases for the language and some details about a particular country. It’s more about the three A’s— attitude, awareness and adaptation—to the ways other cultures do business.

People do business with people they know and trust, and with whom they feel comfortable.

Several Asian cultures take this sentiment even further with the age-old proverb: Relationships first, business second.

More international business deals have been lost because of the way in which someone conducted business than because of language barriers or any problem with the business itself. Here are good starting point in assuring not only your cultural savvy, but also the most respectful and cordial conduct when working with other nationalities.

Top Ten Tips Traveling Abroad:




    Use complete title when making introductions. Learn to pronounce your international host’s or guest’s name correctly.

    Take ample supply of business cards. Exchanging them is a ritual in many countries. Wait until your host offers his/her card or asks for yours, and then offer it. Take time to look at a card when it is presented. Treat the card respectfully once you receive it, e.g., don’t write on it, fold it or put it in your pocket and sit on it. These actions can be taken as an insult in some countries.

    Use simple, easily understandable language. Avoid regional expressions or idioms like “y’all” or “dude.” These are rarely understood and can lead to serious misunderstandings.

    Learn a few phrases of the local language, especially “please,” “thank you,” and “nice to meet you.”

    Don’t carry an extra set of psychological baggage, e.g., “cultural baggage.” Avoid pre-conceived notions and stereotypes about other cultures.

    Develop an appropriate attitude that we, as Americans, are ambassadors for not only our companies, but also for our country and our way of life.

    Use the word “nationalities” rather than “foreigners” to describe those from other cultures.

    Plan carefully. Arrive in time to recover from jet lag so you are fresh and rested for the meeting. And give yourself plenty of time to get to appointments, especially in large, crowded cities such as Tokyo, Mexico City, Paris, Rome, Hong Kong, and London. Be on time, and respect the agenda that your hosts may have prepared or suggest.

    Learn about the country’s institutions, social classes, dress codes, language, political system, religious beliefs, values and attitudes, greetings and gestures.

    Don’t be too casual or abrupt. Err on the side of formality. In most other countries, people address each other formally until they get to know you well. Even in the cases where you know a business colleague or client well, you would still want to err on the side of a formal address unless the person tells you to use the informal address.

Key Observations:

1.    Dress conservatively unless you know that a particular country’s dress code is more casual.




2.    Women should avoid pants, short skirts and sleeveless dresses, since some countries, such as the Middle East, consider such attire an affront to their beliefs and customs. Be advised that in Latin America, it’s more common for women to wear clothing that Americans might consider suggestive, and at the very least, evening wear. You may not want to wear this kind of clothing, but don’t be alarmed if you see Latin American women doing so at trade shows and other business events.

3.    Asians may remove their shoes and even their sunglasses before entering homes. You should do the same to respect their culture.

4.    In Europe, don’t take off your suit coat in restaurants, offices or on the street. Follow your host’s lead.

5.    Don’t display too much “rugged individualism” or blatant competitiveness. Seventy percent of the world’s cultures have more of a group orientation in all areas of their lives than Americans do.

6.    Do be patient. Keep in mind that time is a different concept in many other parts of the world. On the other hand, be punctual for meetings in Asia and Europe. In Spain, India and Latin America, being late is considered normal. Be sure you determine how “late” is considered acceptable. In some places it is an hour; in other places it is half an hour.

7.    Discussing family in Arab countries is taboo.

8.    Don’t give a firm handshake in China, Saudi Arabia, France or Japan. Notice, too, that Hispanics, Greeks and Germans shake hands repeatedly. French people shake hands with average (compared to most Americans) firmness and do so repeatedly. For example, it is normal to shake hands with all of your colleagues every day upon the first encounter of the day, even if you work regularly with them and see them daily. This is the custom even if the first encounter happens toward the end of the day. It’s also not unusual in an afternoon meeting to shake hands with the people you are seeing for the first time that day and not with those with whom you have shaken hands earlier in the same day.

9.    During meetings in China, body language counts. Stay calm, collected and controlled.

10.    In China, establish a contact to act as in intermediary who can serve as an informant to you on customs and procedures, as well as be an interpreter to help with the bureaucracy and legal system.

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  1. Saudi Arabia » Actis to Invest US$244 Million in Egypt's Commercial International ... on Wed, 15th Jul 2009 3:22 pm

    2. [...] Business Etiquette for International Travellers. Cultural …Don’t give a firm handshake in China, Saudi Arabia, France or Japan. Notice, too, that Hispanics, Greeks and Germans shake hands repeatedly. French people shake hands with average (compared to most Americans) firmness and do so … [...]

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