Intercultural_Business_Etiquette_PPT_v1

Ukraine

Ukraine

Greetings, titles, business cards

•Men shake hands when greeting one another and maintain direct eye contact.

•Women do not usually shake hands with other women or men. A slight nod of acknowledgment will usually suffice.

•It is a good idea to have one side of your business card translated into Ukrainian. Be sure to highlight any advanced degrees you have received.

Gift giving

•Gifts are not usually exchanged at a first meeting.

•If invited to a home, it is appropriate to bring flowers (avoid yellow), a nice bottle of imported liquor, or chocolates/pastries.

•Gifts should be nicely wrapped.

•Gifts are not opened right away when received.

Ukraine

Communication style

•No rarely means no, and Ukrainians will usually assume that your “no” doesn’t mean no as well. For example, if they say no when you offer them food, they expect it to be offered again and again, and vice versa.

•Many Ukrainians will dance around a subject, especially if it is a difficult or uncomfortable topic. They may try not to tell you things if they’re afraid they will upset you

– even things you think you should know.

•Ukrainians tend to stand a bit less than arm’s length apart during conversation.

•There is not much touching during conversations, especially at first meetings.

•Direct eye contact is the norm and is expected.

•People often yell at strangers freely if they feel it is necessary.

Ukraine

Gestures

•Flicking your neck with your finger means “I want a drink” or “he/she is drunk.”

•Do not point with a single finger, but use your whole hand.

•Do not make a fist with your thumb in between your middle and index finger.

Business behavior

•It is best to be on time for meetings, even though you may be kept waiting.

•Business meetings tend to be structured, beginning and ending with a bit of small talk. It is best to wait for the host to begin and end the business talk.

Negotiations

•Decisions tend to be made from the top down and may take awhile to be reached.

United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates

Note:

•Visitors are expected to abide by local standards of modesty. Never show bare shoulders, arms, stomach, calves or thighs.

•Men should wear long pants and a shirt, preferably long-sleeved, buttoned up to the collar. Men should also avoid wearing visible jewelry, particularly around the neck.

•Women should always wear modest clothing. High necklines, sleeves at least to the elbows, and hemlines at least well below the knees are required. A look of baggy concealment is the goal. Pants or pant suits are not recommended. It is a good idea to keep a scarf handy.

United Arab Emirates

Greetings, titles, business cards

•You should greet the person with the highest title first then greet the rest of the people in the room in a counter-clockwise direction.

•For men, a light handshake is common. Placing your right hand on your heart or chest after shaking hands is a show of great respect to the person you are greeting.

•There is little to no touching between men and women during greetings in public. Women may extend a sleeve-covered wrist or hand to be shaken. Always wait for the woman to initiate, if at all.

•When it comes to business cards it is always best to treat the card with respect.

•Always give and receive cards with the right hand.

United Arab Emirates

Gift giving

•Gifts are not necessary, but appreciated.

•Gifts will be opened in private.

•Gifts to avoid giving include: alcohol, perfumes containing alcohol, pork, pigskin products, personal items such as underwear, knives, toy dogs or gifts that picture dogs, images of nude or partially clad women (even in paintings or sculptures with artistic merit)

United Arab Emirates

Communication style

•Emiratis tend to favor an indirect style of communication. Avoiding confrontation is paramount.

•People stand a little more than arm’s length apart while conversing.

•Touching members of the opposite sex is not allowed and is offensive.

•Emiratis favor direct eye contact in conversations. However, foreign men should avoid staring into the eyes of an Emirati woman.

•While talking to an elder, there usually is not much direct eye contact as a sign of respect.

•Do not discuss the subject of women, not even to inquire about the health of a wife or daughter.

United Arab Emirates

Gestures

•Always give, pass, and receive objects (including food) with your right hand as the left is viewed as unclean.

•Do not point with your finger, use the whole hand.

•Do not cross your legs at the knee, but at the ankle.

•Beckon someone by extending an arm palm down and making a scratching motion with the fingers.

•Do not point the toe or heel or any part of the foot at any person.

•Do not show the sole of your foot or use the foot to move anything.

•Do not openly admire an item, as the host will feel obliged (most likely unwillingly) to offer it to you as a gift and may be offended if you then do not accept it.

•Often shoes are removed before entering a building. Follow the lead of your host.

•Alcohol and pork are not consumed by Muslims.