ows When stepping into a foreign country, be sure to start on the right foot. DECEMBER 08 Doing business globally requires more than compliance with legal mandates. Knowledge of local customs is also critical, especially when making a first impression. A monthly best practices alert for multinationals confronting the As 2008 draws to a close (none too soon), and we all look forward to greeting the New challenges of the global workplace Year, we offer some tips on how to say hello in countries around the world. This Month’s With best wishes from the International Labor Group. Challenge When doing business abroad, Hugs and Business Gestures/ not knowing the local customs Country Handshake Eye Contact Other Kisses Cards Physical Space can lead to serious embarrassment. EUROPE UK A handshake Generally Customs Avoid Direct eye Pants actually Best Practice is the most no kissing similar to excessive hand contact is means appropriate or hugging. U.S. gestures and common and underwear, not Tip of the Month greeting. displays of acceptable, but trousers. emotion. don’t be too A little preparation can prevent intense. a lot of trouble. Get to know France A handshake In social Cards The U.S. sign Direct eye Always apologize the local customs before is the most settings, should be for ok means contact is if you do not embarking for an international appropriate friends do printed in zero in France. common and speak French business meeting. greeting and les bises English acceptable, and or if you need to farewell. (touching on one sometimes conduct business However, cheeks and side and intense. in another handshakes air- French on language that you are not as firm kissing). the other. are more comfortable with. as in the U.S. Business or Germany. cards Avoid being received overly loud. should be Interrupting is treated common and with considered part of respect. the art of argument/ discussion. Hugs and Business Gestures/ Country Handshake Eye Contact Other Kisses Cards Physical Space Germany A firm handshake with Generally no Customs Avoid excessive Direct eye contact Address people direct eye contact is the kissing or similar to U.S. hand gestures is common and by their title and most appropriate greeting hugging. and displays of acceptable. always as Herr and farewell. emotion. so-and-so, unless otherwise requested. Be punctual. Italy A handshake is the most Close women Business cards Expect a lot of Direct eye contact Flowers must be appropriate greeting, and friends may are only talking with is common and given in even may include grasping the touch cheeks and exchanged in one’s hands. acceptable. numbers. arm with the other hand. air-kiss. the business Business matters setting. Close male are generally not friends may Many Italians discussed in embrace and slap have a less social settings. each other on the formal card to It is common for back. exchange in people to talk social settings. over each other. Netherlands A warm and hearty Generally, the Customs similar Avoid excessive Direct eye contact is Despite being handshake is the most Dutch are formal to U.S. hand gestures and common and basically reserved, appropriate greeting for and reserved in displays of acceptable. the Dutch have a both men and women. public. emotion. manner of speaking that may startle you by its directness. Spain A handshake is the most Men who are Cards should The U.S. sign for Direct eye contact Dining is appropriate greeting. close friends be printed in ok is a rude sign is common and usually may shake hands English on one in Spain. expected. associated with and hug each side and establishing other; women Spanish on the business who are friends other. relationships in may hug and air- Spain, so be kiss on both prepared for cheeks. your business associate(s) to join you at any or all of your daily meals. Russia A firm, handshake while Close friends and Cards should People tend to Direct eye contact In formal maintaining direct eye family may hug be printed in stand close to the is common and situations, contact is the most and kiss. English on one other person acceptable. people use all appropriate greeting. side and when talking. three names, Russian on the whilst friends The U.S. sign for other. ok is a rude sign and close in Russia. acquaintances may refer to each other by their first name and patronymic; for example, Ivan Ivanovich. International HR Best Practices Newsletter 2 Hugs and Business Gestures/ Country Handshake Eye Contact Other Kisses Cards Physical Space MIDDLE EAST/ NORTH AFRICA Israel In a business context with Generally no Customs Always use the Direct eye contact Spatial foreigners, a handshake is kissing or similar to U.S. right hand. is common and relationships are the most appropriate hugging. expected. much The thumbs up greeting. closer during gesture is conversation. offensive throughout the Arab world. Saudi Arabia In a business context with Many Saudi men Cards should Always use the Direct eye contact Spatial foreigners, a handshake is accompany their have English right hand. is common and relationships expected. the most appropriate greetings with an on one side and The thumbs up among males are greeting; however, it may embrace and Arabic on the much closer gesture is feel a bit more like a hand- cheek kissing. other. during offensive hold. conversation. However, Always receive throughout the Women should follow visitors who are cards with the Arab world. If a Saudi man their host’s lead. not established right hand. is accompanied close friends by a veiled Also, wait for the host’s should not make woman, he will lead when greeting women. physical contact probably not except to shake introduce her. hands. It is important not to rush the negotiation process. Generally, no may be signalled by a sharp tilt backward of the head, and yes with a couple of sharp tilts forward. A yes might mean maybe. International HR Best Practices Newsletter 3 Hugs and Business Gestures/ Country Handshake Eye Contact Other Kisses Cards Physical Space Egypt In a business context with Men in Egypt Cards should Always use the Direct eye contact Spatial foreigners, a handshake is tend to be more have English right hand. between men is relationships the most appropriate touch-oriented, on one side and common, and among males are The thumbs up greeting; however, it may thus a handshake Arabic on the sometimes even much closer. gesture is other. intense. feel a bit more like a hand- may be offensive Egyptians will hold. accompanied by Always receive throughout the It is considered tend to stand a gentle touching Women should follow cards with the Arab world. a sign of honesty close and if you their host’s lead. of the elbow right hand and and sincerity. move away, this with the other make a point of may be seen as a Also, wait for the host’s hand. studying it sign of lead when greeting aloofness. women. before putting it away. On the other hand, men and women stand farther apart than in the United States and Europe. Yes may mean possibly. Algeria A handshake is the most Algerians may Always give or Always use the Direct eye contact Spatial appropriate greeting. give each other a receive right hand. between men is relationships kiss on the cheek business cards common; however among males However, a person may The thumbs up but only for with the right prolonged, direct will be much continue to hold the hand gesture is hand. during the ensuing small friends and offensive eye contact is not closer and a family. acceptable person may talk. It is a good idea throughout the between men and even hold to have them Arab world. Women should follow women. translated into another’s arm their host’s lead. while Arabic or conversing. Also, wait for the host’s French. lead when greeting Gifts, such as women. pastries, fruits, and flowers, are common to cement relationships, but they are generally not opened in front of the giver. Saying no directly is usually avoided. International HR Best Practices Newsletter 4 Hugs and Business Gestures/ Country Handshake Eye Contact Other Kisses Cards Physical Space ASIA China A handshake is now Definitely No. Cards should Public displays Prolonged direct Actually saying customary, but a nod of be printed in of affection are eye contact is no is generally the head or a slight bow is English on one not common. considered avoided, instead sufficient. side and impolite and even it is often Personal space is intimidating. Neither should include too Chinese on the smaller. communicated other. much direct eye contact. by tipping the Pointing should head backward Present card be done with an and audibly with both hands open hand. and accept it sucking air in through the using both Beckoning teeth. hands to show should be done respect. with the open Silence during palm facing conversation is downward with customary and the fingers acceptable. moving back and forth in a curling motion. Japan Bowing is traditional, but a Definitely No. Cards should Standing with Prolonged direct Actually saying handshake with a light grip be printed in your hands in eye contact is no is generally accompanied by a slight English on one your pockets considered avoided, instead bow is a good show of side and may be impolite and even it is often respect for traditional Japanese on the considered rude. intimidating. communicated custom. other. by tipping the Overly head backward Avoid too much direct eye Present card demonstrative contact. with both hands behavior should and audibly sucking air in and accept it be avoided.