Foreign etiquette
Foreign etiquetteEtiquette for Greetings and Business Cards
As we do business in other countries and as we receive businesspeople from other countries in our American offices, it is important to know how to greet people and how to present our business cards. The greeting is the beginning of the business interaction; if it goes well, we create a positive impression that will serve as a foundation for our business discussions.
Business Cards
The ultimate passport in today’s global economy is the business card. It identifies your company and makes it easier for international people to understand your name. Rank and profession in other countries are taken much more seriously then they are in the United States.
For every country in which you travel, have your business card information in English on one side and in the language of the particular country on the other side. Include your name, position title, your company name and address, and your fax and telephone numbers.
In European and North American countries, the business card may be presented with either hand. In Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, never present the card with your left hand; the left hand is considered unclean.
Greetings
Your first chance to make an impression is when you greet someone and exchange names. In America, we tend to be formal but that does not mean we should be careless. Professional, social, and family statuses are very important in many cultures. If you say or do something, which is incorrect, you can offend others and embarrass yourself.
Always use a formal greeting when you meet people from other cultures. Never address them by their first names unless they ask you to do so. In European and North American countries, greet the person with a firm handshake, good eye contact, and...
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