Intercultural_Business_Etiquette_PPT_v1

El Salvador

Business behavior

•It is best to show up on time for an initial meeting, although they will start ½-1 hour late.

•There is usually some form of small talk before discussing business. It is best to allow your host to begin and end the business discussion.

•Do not talk about: local politics, religion and the civil war.

Negotiations

•Avoid hard selling, pressure tactics and any sort of conflict or confrontation.

•Decisions are usually made from the top down and take a while to be reached.

•Expect several meetings before final decisions are made.

Georgia

Georgia

Greetings, titles, business cards

•A firm handshake is acceptable in most situations, and a nod of acknowledgment tends to be acceptable as well.

•Men should wait for women to extend their hand first.

•Address people directly by using Mr., “Batano” or Mrs., “Qalbatano”, followed by the surname.

•There is no specific protocol surrounding the giving and receiving of business cards. It is always best to treat the card with respect.

Gift giving

•Gifts are always well received, though not necessarily expected. They do not need to be much; i.e. a box of chocolates is always appreciated.

•If you are invited to someone's house it is always nice to bring something. Flowers (odd numbers only), chocolate, wine or spirits are acceptable.

•Gifts are not opened in front of the giver.

Georgia

Communication style

•Most people tend to use indirect speaking.

•Georgians tend to be quite lively talkers. Public displays of emotion are common.

•Personal questions are very common. Georgians are not shy in asking how much money you make, whether you want to marry a Georgian, etc.

•When speaking, people are often an arm's length apart.

•There isn't much touching between business associates.

•Direct eye contact is seen as a sign of respect and trustworthiness.

Gestures

•Pinching the front of the throat and pulling it toward someone is a way of soliciting, begging, or saying “please.”

•Beckon someone with your palm downwards and make a scratching motion with the fingers. Do not beckon someone with the palm up.

•Do not make a circle with the thumb and forefinger (“OK” sign).

Georgia

Business behavior

•Georgians are notoriously unpunctual. Meetings rarely start on time, and it is not unusual for people to arrive as much as 45 minutes or an hour later.

•Punctuality is important if one is meeting with VIPs; otherwise lateness is overlooked.

•It is advisable to shake hands with everyone upon arriving and leaving. The person of higher status usually initiates the handshake.

•Interruptions are common and somewhat expected. It is not a sign of disrespect.

Negotiations

•There tends to be lots of emotion in negotiating and they can become quite loud and animated.

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

Guatemala

Guatemala

Greetings, titles, business cards

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

•Titles are important. You may speak directly to someone by using only his or her title, without including the last name.

–A Ph.D. or a physician = Doctor (dok-TOR)

–Teacher = Profesor (pro-fe-SOR)

–Lawyer = Abogado/a (a-bo-GA-do/da)

•Persons who do not have professional titles should be addressed as:

–Mr. = Señor (sen-YOR)

–Mrs. = Señora (sen-YOR-a)

–Miss = Señorita (sen-yor-I-ta)

•Most Latinos have two surnames: one from their father, which is listed first, followed by one from their mother. Only the father’s surname is used when addressing someone

•There is no specific ritual surrounding the giving of business cards. Treat the card with respect and interest.

•It is advisable to have one side of your business card translated into Spanish. Present your business card with the Spanish side facing the recipient.

Guatemala

Gift giving

•Gifts are usually not brought to a first meeting.

•If invited to a home, it is appropriate to bring flowers (avoid white ones), wine, spirits, or chocolates.

Gestures

•Guatemalans wave good-bye using a gesture that looks like someone fanning themselves: hand raised, palm toward the body, and a wave of the fingers back and forth

•To beckon someone, extend an arm and making a scratching motion with your fingers or sweep your whole arm toward your body.

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

Guatemala

Communication style

•Guatemalans tend to be comfortable at an arm’s length from one another.

•Direct eye contact is an important way of showing interest in what the speaker is saying.

•Loud voices in public are looked down upon; speaking softly considered the polite thing to do

•Small talk is common before beginning business discussions.

•Good conversation topics: Guatemalan geography, history, culture

•Bad conversation topics: politics or “the violence” since 1978, racism, Mayan vs. Guatemalan issues, poverty, and politics.

Guatemala

Business behavior

•Arriving on time for a meeting is important as Guatemalans tend to be quite punctual in business situations.

•There is usually some form of small talk before getting down to business. It is best to allow your host to begin the business discussion.

•Negotiations

•Guatemalans value relationship building and harmony so it is important to avoid hard selling, pressure tactics and any sort of conflict or confrontation.

•Guatemalans use and respond best to indirect communication style over direct.

•Decisions are usually from the top down and can be lengthy before they are reached.