When young business school graduates are fortunate enough to find lucrative careers in international business, it benefits them greatly to bone up on their international business etiquette. Every country you will deal with is different, so it is hard to have one single set of social rules to follow in every case, but that is exactly what you need to do. Whatever the customs of your home country, know that the customs abroad will probably be different in many ways, but certain things are always acceptable. If you can train yourself to pay attention to the most widely accepted customs, you have a good chance of fitting in wherever you go.
Some of these internationally accepted customs include the following:
- Always take time to build relationships and rapport. Don’t just rush into business.
- Always dress conservatively. You may not always have to, but it won’t hurt.
- Understand the hierarchy. Each country will observe a different hierarchy, whether they make decisions by consensus or in a top-down manner. Don’t assume the eldest person will rank highest, nor the male in a mixed group. Stand back and wait for the hierarchy to emerge on its own. Observe and learn.
Be flexible in your handshake. The American business handshake is slightly different from the European or the Japanese. So go in for the handshake and follow the other person’s lead in terms of whether it should be strong or soft.
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