Business Etiquette Around the World

It is important to be familiar with the international business etiquette, culture and tradition of a foreign country before embarking on a trip abroad. One weak handshake or a forgotten cup of tea could result in a lucrative deal falling through for your business. What is considered polite and respectful in Chinese business etiquette might be vastly different than in the UAE. Japanese business etiquette is taken seriously whereas business etiquette in the UK does not stretch much further than a firm handshake – so it’s important to know where you stand. To help you on your way to success, we have compiled a list of some obscure international business etiquette to bear in mind while you’re bartering abroad.

United Arab Emirates Business Etiquette

Lefties – beware. And no, by lefty, we don’t mean the Marxists among you. If somebody extends their hand to greet you in the UAE, you must always accept it with your right hand.  The left hand is seen as unclean and only used to maintain bodily hygiene – so unless you’re planning to wipe your host’s nose (which we strongly advise against) try to stifle your lefty tendencies. Lefties like Bill Gates or Barack Obama would most likely frown at this, but on the other hand – the right hand that is – you could land an extremely lucrative deal with your hosts. We know which we would prefer.

Remember to pass all documents with your right hand, eat with your right hand and most importantly, shake hands with your right hand. However, if your business partner insults you in some way, or has the downright audacity to pass you a sheet of paper with his left hand, don’t be afraid to use yours for an impolite gesture of your own.

This rule generally holds true across the Middle East and other Muslim countries.

Belgian Business Etiquette

In Belgium, greetings follow a very strict protocol – you won’t find any back patting or weak and feeble handshakes here. Belgian’s much prefer kissing on the cheek when receiving potential business partners. This does not mean that you’re free to plant a big sloppy kiss onto your hosts cheek however, protocol calls for kisses to be ‘air kisses’ and to first start near the right check, followed by the left, and then back to the right again. This is something that Americans and Brits in particular find uncomfortable, as a macho business culture very much prevails in these countries. But we would advise you to embrace your inner goddess and give out as many air kisses as possible. You are a strong, confident woman (or man…).

Middle Eastern Business Etiquette

UK citizens will feel very at home with the customs in the Middle East. Tea is a symbol of friendship and respect, if you are offered tea during a meeting or outing you must accept it. If you do not, you may find that your whole business trip is put in jeopardy. This is hardly a debilitating task for British citizens to submit to, indeed – tea flows as naturally as water in the United Kingdom and is considered almost as sacred as the Queen herself. However, for others, this simple concoction can be hard to swallow. To allow for this, many countries in the Middle East will extend their generosity by offering coffee to Americans instead – a barbarism that is tolerated but frowned upon. If you choose to refuse both coffee and tea then you may as well cut your losses and quietly retreat from the meeting room in disgrace.

Japanese Business Etiquette

Japanese business etiquette includes some of the most-colorful business customs in the eastern hemisphere. The age old adages of ‘work hard, party hard’, and ‘go hard or go home’ could well have originated in Japan in the early 1600s, and are still put into practice in Japanese business etiquette today.

Companies commonly purchase large quantities of liquor to be held in exclusive nightclubs, where special lockers are piled up with expensive booze. In accordance with Japanese business etiquette, you will be expected to keep up with the partying until the early hours of the morning, but it’s probably best not to get too intoxicated. This is a protocol reserved for a member of the Japanese business team, where one person is expected to get so inebriated that they have to be carried home by their colleagues. True international business etiquette at its best.

Spanish Business Etiquette

What’s important to remember in Spain is not specific customs themselves, but rather the lack of them. Spanish people have a laid back and informal approach to business that can sometime seem strange or misleading to their foreign counterparts.

A deadline in Spain is as mythical as a unicorn in a sombrero. You should not be put off by this, but should instead schedule any potential delays into your company’s timeline. The same attitude applies to securing business deals in general. If, while dining out, you find yourself agreeing with a price that your host mentions during a mouthful of paella, it is probable that your company will receive a call requesting that payment in the not too distant future. Be wary of this, and keep your guard up to a certain degree whilst enjoying your dinner and the laidback nature of the Spanish.

Chinese Business Etiquette

Chinese business etiquette is steeped in culture and tradition – from the way you introduce yourself to the way you address your superiors, a meticulous approach is required for most things. However, the one custom that takes precedence above the rest is the act of gift giving.

Gift giving is an important business tradition in China and the staple of Chinese business etiquette. Typically, one gift is presented to the chief person of a Chinese organization as a mark of respect and friendship. Gift giving typically takes place at the end of an introductory meeting and represents something about your home country. Items like books and small paintings are considered to be in good taste in Chinese business etiquette. When presenting your gift, it is important to offer it to the recipient with both hands; failure to do this will seem crass and rude. Your host will likely refuse the gift at first out of politeness, but the giver should persist until it is eventually accepted – just be thankful you’re not around the office for Secret Santa at Christmas…