As JOINUS is a European Erasmus+ Project, the detailed business culture & etiquette of the whole world cannot be encompassed in the scope of the project however some basic poinst will be introduced for the four regions “worldwide” which have been identified. Of course the business diversity worldwide is vast and there are many specific elements within the countries and regions themselves.
The business etiquette thus differs to a large extent however you can distinguish certain regions having commonalities. This is not to say that you should stereotype, each country and even region of the country may have its own individual and specific characteristics.
These regions worldwide can be divided into Africa, Asia, North America and South America.
To find out more detailed information about business etiquette information go to this page.
General "dos"
- Researching what the standard business formal greeting.
- English is not an official working and business language in all the regions
- Observing & using courteous formality.
- Being punctual even when the host is not.
General "don'ts"
- Do not assume and stereotype
- Don't rush into actions when unsure about the formal aspects.
- Not having any historical background of different regions and jumping quick to business without being sensitive.
Africa
General information
- Handshakes are a typical greeting in business settings but please note that some Muslims will not shake hands with the opposite sex
- African greetings are not rushed and it is polite to ask about the welfare of the other party and other personal inquiries
- As a sign on respect, Africans bow their heads to superiors or to people who are older than them
- Building relations is of essence on the African continent
- Africans are conservative and sensitive so they follow a formal business etiquette and hierarchical systems
- Knowing the business counterparts on a amicable personal level is of essence for successfull future business dealings
General Information
Asia
- It is very important to build trust and develop strong relations
- Small talk and networking are of essence to establish these strong relations that you can later build on
- The communication is not supposed to be as direct and open (mind the wording) and it is necessary to understand the concept of "face"
- Decision making is often highly centralized and hierarchical (superior's approval is of essence)
- Asia professionals value personal space and informal close physical greetings are not welcome
- A basic sign of respect is punctuality and arriving ahead of time is considered professional
North America
General Information
- The North American business culture tends to be fairly informal as these countries have been a melting of various different cultures
- A firm handshake is the go-to greeting and out of courtesy counterparts often ask how you are doing
- When responding, do not go into (negative) details of your life as the expected answers is a short positive response
- Be sure to keep some space between you and the other person - more personal space is needed than in some other parts of the world
- Smiling and a light hearted way of communication is common
- Individualism is highly valued
- Canadians pride themselves in being more polite, reserved and socially tolerant
General Information
South America
- Business attire and dressing smartly is a first way to make a good impression
- The correct physical contact is essential to buid trust and respect with others
- People in Latin America have a smaller sense of personal space
- It is preferable to use titles and surnames
- In South America, the concept of time is not as rigid however more punctuality may be expected in business settings
- Social conversation is expected and Latinos are very warm and friendly
- There are certain expectations of e.g. table manners and there are some social taboos to be careful about
