International Business Etiquette

China

Greetings
· Shake hands with everyone, even children
· Hong Kong Chinese may be uncomfortable with body contact, so do not hug or kiss
· It is polite to ask about a person’s health or activities as a greeting
Communicating
· You will often have to read between the lines when interacting with the Chinese
· Yes does not always indicate agreement, as no is not often said.
· Compliment the Chinese.   When you are complimented, you should deny it to show humility
Dining
· When eating, always leave a small amount of food on your plate to indicate that your host has provided enough food


Brazil

Greetings
· Brazilians are known to be very risk-oriented and creative
· Make sure to individually greet and say goodbye to each person at a gathering
· Physical contact is common and acceptable.   Brazilians stand very close together
· Appearance is very important.   Dress well, stay at the best hotels and entertain at prestigious restaurants
Communicating
· Relationships are very important to Brazilians, and they will do anything for friends and family
Dining
· Meals often last two or more hours
· Do not discuss business at a meal unless your host brings it up
· Brazilians are very casual about time, so be prepared to wait for your colleagues


India
Greetings
· Greeting by placing hands together and slightly bowing while saying “Namaste” is polite and shows respect for Indian customs
· Indians value personal space, allow at least an arm’s length
Communicating
· Men do not touch women when meeting or greeting
· Only use your right hand to touch someone, as the left hand is considered unclean
Dining
· Arrive 15-30 minutes later than specified meeting time
· It is considered rude to begin a meeting with business talk, always make small talk about the person’s family or interests
· Business can be slow and difficult, so persistence is key
· When an Indian person says, “I will try” this is considered a polite “No”

When traveling... [continues]

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