Excerpts from (Ask Men.com) J.Samuel
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Business Etiquette in Other Countries
1. Be courteous and professional at all times - take the time to
learn Asian courtesy as Western courtesy may have a contrary meaning in
Singapore!
2. Business friendships are based on honor, integrity and good
character - take pains to establish and maintain contacts as Singaporeans
highly regard warm and personal relationships.
3. When making introductions for the first time, and in formal
meetings, always use the person's title and family or personal name.
- The Chinese place their family names first, followed by the personal
names. Women often keep their own family name.
The rule of thumb is never use personal names or nicknames unless invited to
do so, or until a friendship has been established after a long time.
4. Don't be offended if a Singaporean doesn't look you in the eye in a
meeting. The eyes are cast politely down or away as a sign of respect,
especially if you are more senior or have a higher status.
5. Handshakes in Singapore are usually soft and light to the touch,
unlike the bone-crushing one common to people from the West.
Usually other courteous forms for saluting: bowing, salaaming, saluting,
shaking their own clasped hands in front of them etc. are used.
6. The polite way to give and receive business cards is to formally
hold it with both hands, look carefully at it one or two times, smile and show
you have recognized and noted well who the other person is. This is a form of
respect to the other person.
7. It is common to be greeted with "Have you eaten?" or "Where are you
going?" instead of "Good morning/afternoon/evening" or "How are you?".
8. Good topics for small talk includes food, the scenery, arts, music,
tourist attractions, mutual benefit and mutual friendship.
9. Be punctual for business meetings, and arrive as a group, lined up
in order of rank.
10. Avoid complimenting a businesswoman's appearance as this may be
misconstrued as amorous advances
11. Never touch, hug or kiss a person of the opposite sex at a
business meeting. Unlike in the West, this could be misread!
12. Jackets are not required for men for business meetings due to the
tropical humidity and heat. Women may wear pantyhose in the more formal offices.
13. Be careful about gift-giving as they could be misinterpreted as
bribes. If you must give a gift to an individual, give it in private so as not
to offend the rest of the group.
COMMON CUSTOMS OF JAPAN
As a
gaijin (foreigner) you won't be expected to know all of the local customs
and probably won't offend anyone with your lack of Japanese social graces. Any
effort you make to fit in will be appreciated, so keep the following customs in
mind.
Gift Giving
When invited to a
Japanese home, be it that of a friend or an official homestay, it is customary
to bring a gift, or omiyage. We suggest bringing some small trinkets,
like key chains or baseball caps, from home for this purpose. Gift-giving plays
an important role in Japanese culture, so make sure you have something on hand
in case you receive an unexpected gift and want to reciprocate. It's also
customary to bring back souvenirs for friends and colleagues when you go out of
town. The gift should be between two and five dollars in value, and make sure
it's from the region you have visited or your friends will notice if it's not!
Exchanging Business Cards
In Japan, every
business relationship begins with an exchange of business cards, or meishi. As
soon as you know your permanent address, have some business cards printed,
preferably with English on one side and Japanese on the other. Expect to receive
many business cards during your stay in Japan. You should receive a business
card with both hands and bow subtly, yet graciously. Read the card with great
interest, perhaps commenting on a particular character, or kanji. Simply taking
the card and putting it in your pocket or wallet is considered rude.
Bowing
The bow is firmly
embedded in Japanese culture. You will become used to it after only a short time
in Japan. The Japanese bow when they meet and part from one another (when
Westerners would use a handshake), to express gratitude, to show deference to
superiors, and in many other social situations. The type of bow depends on the
relationship and social or professional ranking of the people involved. As a
foreigner and newcomer to Japanese culture, you will be exempt from strict
bowing etiquette, but the more you assimilate the better.
Removing Shoes
You will be expected to remove
your shoes upon entering many Japanese buildings, including homes and even some
English schools. The reason is more practical than traditional, since it helps
to keep the inside clean. You may be provided with slippers, but they must not
leave the house and they must be removed before walking on tatami mats. Be sure
that you are wearing presentable socks!
Eating and Drinking
You will catch on quickly to the
subtleties involved with eating and drinking in Japan. If you have never used
chopsticks, start practicing immediately. Using chopsticks is fairly
straightforward. Remember that upon finishing your meal, you must place your
chopsticks across your dish or on the side, and never place your chopsticks in
your bowl or standing up in your rice. This is done only at funerals, so to do
it at any other time is considered disrespectful.
If you go out for drinks with
friends or colleagues, you will notice that each person takes turns filling the
other's glass. It is considered rude to fill your own glass except when you are
among good friends. You might also notice that your glass will be continuously
filled even if you say "no, thank you." Leave your glass full once you have had
enough to drink. It's customary to split the bill evenly among everyone at the
table, no matter how much you've had to drink or eat.
Before eating or drinking, it is
customary to say "Itadakimasu." This term, roughly translated, means "good
eating to you, I am starting to eat." It is considered rude to start a meal
without saying "Itadakimasu."
CHINA
GREETINGS:
When meeting for the first time, a handshake is the most common greeting. But
even a handshake can be a different experience in China. First of all it may be
held for a longer time than Americans are used to and sometimes it may be in a
flimsy manner. In order to show special respect, such as to elderly people or
government officials, a slight bow might be given.
GIFTS:
When visiting a family it is appropriate to bring a small gift, such as fruits,
to the host, especially around New Years time. Gifts should be given and
received with both hands. Both hands should also be used when handing things to
another person.
When wrapping, be aware that the Chinese ascribe much importance to color. Red
is lucky; however writing in red ink means the end of a relationship... pink and
yellow represent happiness and prosperity; white, grey and black are funeral
colors.
The popular items include cigarette lighters, stamps (stamp collecting
is a popular hobby), T-shirt, the exotic coins.
It is also a
Chinese custom when receiving a gift to thank you for it and then place it to
the side without opening it. This avoids embarrassment to the Chinese giver in
case the gift is not something needed or wanted.
Compliments about a
particular object, such as a vase should be avoided by guests as this may make
the host feel obligated to give the object to the guest as a gift. At parties,
guests are often expected to participate, especially if they have some talent.
If you decide to send your Chinese client a gift, be sure it's not a clock. Why?
It's a symbol of bad luck in their culture.
China is one of those wonderful countries where tipping is not practiced
and almost no one asks for tips. The same thing goes even in Hong Kong and
Macao, except in some luxurious hotels.
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ABC's of a GOOD CEO
If you aspire to achieve success in your
career, then check out many of the qualities you will need to acquire in order
to make it to the top.
Confidence
You have to be secure in your abilities and
confident that you can carry out the task. Never let anyone make you feel
inferior; they can only do so if you give them "permission" to.
Persistence
As former US President Calvin Coolidge once said:
"Nothing can take the place of persistence." Not talent, not genius and not
education. "Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent." So don't quit
easily.
Think (Bigger)
The higher you move up the ladder, the more
complex the decisions. Thus, it only follows that you will have to think things
through much more carefully and thoroughly, as each decision can potentially
affect the whole organization in drastic ways.
Continuous Improvement
Always strive to be better than you are
today. Don't be afraid to take risks and make mistakes. Remember, failure is
only a temporary setback on the road to success.
6. Details, Details & More Details
Ultimately, every business
comes down to details. If your strategy is solid but you botch the execution of
the details of the plan, you'll end up in the doghouse. Pay attention to the
details; small mistakes add up quickly.
Don't Be Afraid To Lead
Successful people are often leaders.
Perhaps you're not the top guy (main leader) according to your job title, but if
you're a leader in your field then you still have what it takes to become
successful. You can be a great salesperson, so long as you excel at your job and
take initiative. So pick up the torch when you see fit and make things happen.
Be Competitive
One of the basic tenets of capitalism is the
competition that exists in a free market. You will either be the hunter or the
prey. If you are not competitive, then you'll end up getting eaten for lunch.
It's true and don't ever forget that this is the law of business.
Honesty Is The Best Policy
If you wanted to become a crook, you
would've joined the mob. If you are in business, your reputation counts for a
lot so be sure to be ethical in your dealings with your co-workers and clients.
You have to set the example or you'll risk being the head henchman in a den of
thieves.
Work With People
A big part of your success will consist of
learning how to interact with others and how to manage human capital in order to
make the most of the organization's resources.
Be Positive
Be positive, infuse your personality and work with
positive energy. This is catchy and will set the tone for your team. You'll get
more done with a positive outlook rather than a negative one.
M.Bucci
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