+ Unlike many other Latin American countries where there is a distinct indigenous population, Brazilians have intermarried to the point that nearly everyone has a combination of European, African, and indigenous ancestry.

+ Brazilian conversations are fast-paced and animated with frequent interruptions. Exclamations and a great deal of physical contact are normal.

+ Soccer is a highly respected national institution. Never say that another country plays soccer better than Brazil.

+ Appearances matters to Brazilians both in business and daily life. This includes dressing well and staying at the best hotel that your budget can accommodate.
- Men should wear conservative, dark-colored business suits. Lighter colored suits may be worn in the summer. Three-piece suits generally indicate that someone is an executive.
- Business attire for women is extremely important. Brazilian businesswomen generally wear elegant business suits or dresses with high quality accessories.

+ In doing business, much time is spent developing a friendly relationship. It will usually take several visits to close a deal as Brazilians need to know who they are doing business with before they can work together.

+ A foreign businessperson should learn as much about the Brazilian economic and commercial environment as possible before conducting business.

+ Status in Brazil is based more on educational and professional accomplishments than on family background.

+ By nature, Brazilians are future oriented, yet strongly fatalistic at the same time. They have strong religious beliefs but do not see themselves as having total control over their destiny.

- from RW3 CultureWizard’s Country Profiles

RW-3.com

While the source of this is unknown (we found it posted somewhere on Facebook), we believe it’s quite true to form! Is there anything you can add to this list?

If you’d like some more culture tips for the UK, click here to read our previous post on the matter.

Mark
RW3 CultureWizard

Interested in improving your Russian business skills? RW3′s Sean Dubberke contributed a cultural profile of Russia, including strategies for successful business, to MOBILITY magazine this month. Click here to read it online.

RW3 CultureWizard

The following culture tips will come in handy when doing business with France.

+ The French are private people and have different rules of behavior for people within their social circle and those who are not. Although the French are generally polite, it is with their close friends and family that they express themselves freely and openly.

+ A well-rounded education indicates status and breeding. It is a good idea to become familiar with French history and culture to impress French colleagues.

+ People who are well read and can speak intelligently about the arts are considered of a higher class.

+ As a general business rule, French people are more serious in demeanor and do not smile without a reason. Although most French businesspeople understand that smiling is more commonplace in many other cultures, they may be unimpressed by expressions of humor or over-familiarity.

+ Foreign businesswomen will be treated with the same courtesy and respect that French men afford all women. Well-dressed women generally receive courtly attention from French men, including appreciative glances or a compliment about their clothes.

+ The handshake is a common form of greeting. Friends may greet each other by lightly kissing on the cheeks. The number of kisses–one to four–varies according to the region.

+ The French have a great appreciation for the art of conversation. Their communication style is direct, often interlaced with probing questions. Therefore, it is important to present a logical argument and be able to approach the situation from multiple angles.

+ Heated discussion and negotiation are part of French communication. The French enjoy confrontational discussion and see them as an opportunity to demonstrate their intelligence and knowledge of the subject matter.

Key French Business Values

- from RW3′s CultureWizard™ Country Profiles

rw-3.com

Strategies for Success in India

• Intensive management is viewed, for the most part, as good management. As a manager, provide explicit instructions and guidance to your teams.
• Clarify anything with a written checklist and open-ended questions.
• Ask for input since many may be reluctant to provide unsolicited feedback. Be conscious to save face when asking challenging questions in front of a group.
• Ask for regular feedback and frequently follow up on tasks in order to maintain schedules and meet deadlines.
• Avoid asking questions that can be answered by a “yes” or “no”.
• Ask questions in several ways to ensure that the way the question was phrased did not impact the response
• Prepare several “what-if” scenarios to help drive change.

Key Business Values in India

• Respect for elders and authorities
• Trust is very important, and is developed through building strong relationships over time
• Preference to work collaboratively
• Family obligations may take precedence over work
• Preference to not give or receive bad news
• Avoidance of giving overt negative response
• Relationship-building activities may take precedence over meeting schedules and deadlines
• Reluctance to take undirected initiative

- from RW3′s CultureWizard® Pocket Guides, also available on CultureWizard Mobile

RW-3.com

Whether you’re an expatriate or business traveler, part of a global team with members in Vietnam or working with Vietnamese customers, the following culture tips will prove essential to your success:

+ If someone disagrees with what another person says, rather than disagree publicly, a Vietnamese person might simply remain silent.

+ The concept of face is extremely important to Vietnamese. Saying a direct no to someone may cause that person to lose face. Face may also be lost through a person’s own actions such as publicly displaying emotion, losing self-control, becoming intoxicated, or rescinding an order.

+ The teachings of Confucius have had a strong impact in modern Vietnamese society. Confucianism stresses duty, loyalty, honor, filial piety, respect for age and seniority, and sincerity.

+ Vietnamese are very conscious of age and status. Everyone has a distinct place in the hierarchy, be it the family unit, the extended family, a social or a business situation. Be aware of the implications of hierarchy when managing a Vietnamese workforce.

+ Vietnam has a high context, indirect communication style. As such, it is important not to accept what is said at face value because the Vietnamese generally do not express their opinions clearly, as is more common in Western countries.

+ It is quite common for Vietnamese to ask what would be considered personal questions in more Western cultures. Expect to be asked about your age, marital status, or how much something costs.

+ There is a very distinct generation gap among the Vietnamese. Quite often the political systems they have lived through shape a person’s viewpoint. These differences are more apparent in the north where the changes have been the greatest.

- from RW3′s CultureWizard™ Country Profiles

RW3 CultureWizard

Whether you’re an expatriate or business traveler, part of a global team with members in China or working with Chinese customers, the following culture tips will prove essential to your success:

+ Relationships: Close and trusted relationships are fundamental elements of Chinese society, and in fact, China has its own brand of relationships, called guanxi. Guanxi can also be expressed as a complex network of relationshps that is core to Chinese life (see this blog post on the topic for more background on guanxi).

+ Communication: The Chinese can be quite direct (even blunt) if there is an already established relationship and if the status of the speaker is higher. On the other hand, Chinese can also be quite indirect in their communication. They often imbed a surface exchange with alternate meaning to help maintain harmony between parties and avoid direct conflict or the potential loss of face.

+ Negotiation: Chinese negotiators may respond to a question with another question. This allows them time to think carefully about their response and spares them the possibility of saying something that might offend the other side. In general, vague responses are given frequently, since they help retain group harmony.

+ Risk Tolerance: The best way to get changes accepted and implemented is to provide information concerning previous successes and the benefits that can be achieved for the organization. In more traditional companies, the fear of exposure, and the potential of embarrassment that accompany failure, continues to bring about aversion to risk and the need to thoroughly examine potential negative implications.

With younger generations and those who have been educated outside of China, you will interact with people who are not fatalistic, but rather believe that China’s future (as well as their own) is boundless and full of potential.

However, you may often hear the phrase “Mei banfa“. Molded by years of communism, many Chinese who work in government offices and other highly bureaucratic entities may believe their destiny is not within their control. This attitude is best expressed by, “you try your best, but if things don’t work out the way you wish, what can you do?” – or “mei banfa“.

- from RW3′s CultureWizard™ Country Profiles

RW3 CultureWizard

+ The US is a nation of immigrants, comprised of people from diverse backgrounds and ethnic groups. Americans pride themselves on their individuality, their entrepreneurial attitude and a positive, optimistic outlook on life.

+ There are many stereotypes about the way people from different regions behave:

Southerners are known for their “Southern Hospitality.” They are generally polite, warm and friendly. They are also thought to appreciate a slower pace of life and are more relationship-focused than people from other parts of the country.

Texans exude self-confidence and are proud of the fact that they were once an independent country. They tend to be “larger than life” and often equate bigger with better.

West Coasters, or people from the west coast, are thought to be casual, free-spirited and liberal.

East Coasters are considered to be fast-paced, efficient, formal and comparatively conservative.

+ Americans can be superficially friendly when first meeting others. They may frequently say “hi” or “how are you?” to a lot of people, which is a sign of politeness and an egalitarian outlook. Remember, “how are you doing?” is usually a greeting, not necessarily a question.

+ When leaving a group, Americans may give a group wave or say farewell to everyone at once rather than to each person individually. This is an efficient way of departing, and in business settings a sign of the transactional nature of Americans.

+ From childhood, Americans are raised to see themselves as separate individuals who are the masters of their destiny. As such, they expect to be held accountable for their decisions. This can make them appear self-centered to people from less individualistic cultures. They may presume that people from other cultures feel the same way and may be surprised when they realize that people from other cultures are group- or community-oriented.

- from RW3′s CultureWizard™ Country Profiles

rw-3.com

+ Greeks are proud of their cultural heritage and their contribution to world civilization. A recent study found that Greeks’ pride in being Greek surpassed the ethnic satisfaction of all other European countries.

+ To a Greek, “philotimo” is similar to the Asian concept of face. It is an intangible quality that reflects a person’s reputation, dignity and prestige. Honor is everything to a Greek.

+ Greeks are spontaneously generous people, provided you do not offend them. They can be easily offended, for their pride matches their generosity. Therefore, they do not openly criticize, insult or put anyone on the spot.

+ Business is personal in Greece. As such, it is important to understand that exchanging favors is part of the business culture. If a Greek businessman feels sufficiently comfortable to ask you for a favor, it means he trusts you, which is necessary for successful business dealings.

+ As you might expect in a culture that appears spontaneous, Greeks often interrupt a speaker if they think that they understand what the person is saying. This conversational overlap is not rudeness, but merely the common communication style.

+ Greek businessmen will treat foreign businesswomen with the same courtesy and respect that they treat all women.

+ Women should expect attention and compliments from Greek men. While many businessmen are cosmopolitan, Greece remains a patriarchal culture. Men on the street may verbally show affection or make comments to women, believing such attention is flattering.

- from RW3′s CultureWizard® Country Profiles

RW-3.com

+ Known as the “Rainbow Nation,” South Africa’s government officially recognizes 11 languages: Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Pedi, Shangaan, Sotho, Tsona, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu. English is widely used for business purposes.
+ The concept of “African time” intimates flexibility and a relaxed approach to getting things done.
+ Two phrases frequently used in South Africa are “I will do it now now” and “I will do it just now.” Although they sound very similar, they are quite different. “I will do it now now” indicates that the task has a high priority, while “I will do it just now” means that the task has a lower priority and will be postponed.
+ South Africa is a high-context communication culture, which means people use non-verbal body language to enhance their spoken words. Be aware of this when understanding the messages your colleagues send you.
+ Greetings: shake hands with everyone upon arriving and upon leaving. Maintain eye contact while shaking hands and wait for a woman to extend her hand.
+ Because the country was closed to outside influences for many years, older Afrikaners who speak Afrikaans remain suspicious of anyone who might dilute their culture, including foreigners.
+ South Africa has a medium tolerance for change and risk. Changes are made, albeit slowly, and require considerable amount of thought, planning and evaluation. Be sure to factor this into your work and prepare thoughts to address any possible resistance.
+ In conversation, avoid making comparisons between South African cities. Most people are proud of their hometowns and may find your observations as a foreigner inappropriate.
+ Do not raise controversial subjects such as race relations or local politics. Also, Capetonians have a strong sense of proper decorum and view off-color humor as distasteful. Discretion is advised.

- from RW3′s CultureWizard® Country Profiles

RW3 CultureWizard

The following tips will help develop your cultural knowledge of the United Kingdom.

Language & Communication

Even though the United Kingdom is the birthplace of the English language, it has evolved under separate, unique circumstances, making it distinct from international versions of the language. Depending on the kind of English you’ve been exposed to, you may or may not know what the following words actually mean. Ask yourself if you know the British meaning:

+ The “queue”
+ “Cheers!”
+ “Skinny milk”
+ “Dodgy”

(Answers: the line you wait in e.g. at the store, used in conjunction with goodbye or at the end of a phone conversation or when making a toast, nonfat or fat-free milk, an adjective for something negative or troublesome.)

+ The subtle way Brits give negative feedback may make it hard to understand the core of their message. They are likely to cushion bad news by sandwiching it between more positive messages. This can obscure underlying, yet important information, so be alert.

+ As a group, the British are not animated speakers. In fact, if you insult someone, their facial expression may not change. This only shows they do not believe in putting their innermost thoughts on display. Likewise, emotional appeals will not be effective in many business environments.

+ Humor is a vital element in British communication. As a general rule, it tends to be subtle and clever. Irony and self-deprecation are very common.

Behavior in General

+ The British sense of politeness is world renowned, so keep this in mind. Personal space (at least an arm’s length) and privacy are important aspects of British culture.

+ Do not confuse the geography of the country. Referring to someone from Wales as ‘English’ is inaccurate and offensive. The United Kingdom, much like the United Arab Emirates and the US, is a union of smaller political entities (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and numerous outlying islands). Regionalism is a strong cultural aspect of the country.

+ The British aversion to risk is a key cultural concept. Think of the American proverb, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained,” as opposed to the British proverb, “Let sleeping dogs lie,” which means that disturbances cause complications. Brits will often initiate business discussions by outlining the history and risks involved before discussing the actual opportunities.

+ Business meetings are generally structured although not excessively formal. They begin and end with a modicum of social conversation. This may center on the weather, a favorite subject among the British. Meetings tend to end without a recap or “next steps.”

Finally, it is important to differentiate between living in London and living in other parts of UK. They are two drastically different experiences. Many expatriates find London much more fitting than, for example, Liverpool, given London’s high volume of international residents. You could live in the UK for years and still not grasp the full breadth of British culture, so always keep your mind open and aware of differences, subtle or not, that are culturally rooted.

- from RW3 CultureWizard™ Country Profiles

RW3 CultureWizard

+ Bahrain was one of the first countries in the Gulf to discover oil and build a refinery, thereby becoming wealthy before most of its neighbors.

+ Bahrain is one of the few Gulf countries where nationals represent the majority of the population. Many Bahrainis are of Persian rather than Arab descent, (73,000 according to Wikipedia).

+ The country’s population is majority Shi’a and minority Sunni, representing the two primary sects of Islam. The ruling family is Sunni.

+ Bahraini’s view time as something that is fluid and adjusts to changing circumstances. The expression “insh’allah” literally means “If Allah wills it”, and is an explanation for much behavior. Personal relationships are so important that they take precedence over strict adherence to time.

+ While women are more publicly active in Bahrain than in most Middle Eastern countries, it is still important to establish a businesswoman’s credentials to avoid any misconception about her role. To do so, it’s a good idea to forward a brief bio including academic background, title, and professional accomplishments.

+ A personal introduction can open doors that might otherwise be closed. Bahrainis prefer to do business with those whom they have a personal relationship. A letter of introduction from someone they know allows you to be treated with the respect and trust of the other person.

+ As Bahrainis judge people on appearances, it is a good idea to stay in a high standard international hotel when traveling for business. Wearing good quality, conservative clothes marks you as someone of status. They respect education; mention if you have an advanced degree from a prestigious university, without appearing to boast.

-from RW3′s CultureWizard® Country Profiles

For more country-specific information on culture and business, contact us.

RW-3.com

+ With over 6000 years of history, Egypt’s culture is oriented to its past as much as it is oriented to its present. If you are a business traveler, build time in your schedule for sightseeing. Egyptians are proud of their culture and heritage and enjoy arranging tours for visitors. Do not consider such excursions a waste of time.

+ Kinship and familial ties play an all-important role in Egyptian social relations. The individual is subordinate to the family, tribe or group. The family often has more importance than business, and nepotism is viewed positively since it is patronage of one’s family.

+ In Egypt, a person’s promise is considered his or her bond, and to go back on one’s word is to bring dishonor to one’s entire family.

+ For an Arab country, Egypt has a relatively progressive attitude towards women’s rights. Many women work in business, although seldom in senior management positions. A high proportion of women are employed as doctors, dentists, lawyers, professors, diplomats, ministers and high officials.

+ Egyptians require little physical distance between speakers of the same sex. Men widen the gap considerably when speaking to a woman. They generally stand further away than you are accustomed to in your own culture. Attempting to close the gap could upset your Egyptian colleague, make him question your intentions, and jeopardize your business relationship.

+ Modify your speech pattern if you come from a culture that is direct and to the point. Arabic is a language of hyperbole.

+ Egyptians use indirect, circular, and ambiguous language rife with emotion. Although mirroring their speech pattern would be insulting, it is a good idea to temper directness. Your goal is to get your point across and this happens more readily if you speak in a manner that does not sound harsh and offensive to the listener.

- from RW3′s CultureWizard® Country Profiles

RW-3.com

Aside from UBS’s recent dress code publication, there are many other facets of Swiss culture one should know. Whether you’re a business traveler, or your part of a global team with members in Switzerland, the following culture tips will prove essential:

+ There are four major cultures co-existing in Switzerland: German, French, Italian, and Romansch. Each has linguistic and cultural ties to a neighboring country. While the following are overarching cultural norm, the general Swiss attitude is summed up in the phrase “unity, but not uniformity.”

+ Although friendly and informal with close friends and family, the Swiss are reserved and formal when dealing with outsiders. They do not put their possessions or emotions on display.

+ For the most part, the Swiss believe time is something that can, and should, be controlled. Time is viewed as a commodity and it is not something to be wasted. Business meetings start and end at appointed times, as do social events.

+ The Swiss are pragmatic and responsible. They do not brag or boast and will not be impressed if you state your credentials. The Swiss are obsessed with politeness and expect courteous good manners. Begin with a formal demeanor, moderate your speaking voice, and allow your Swiss colleagues to determine when, or if, you should become more informal.

+ Switzerland’s business community is relatively small and most executives have a network of trusted friends and associates. As such, if you do not handle your business dealings in an acceptable manner, word of your behavior will spread through the business community relatively quickly.

- from RW3′s CultureWizard™ Country Profiles

RW3 CultureWizard

+ Colombia is highly stratified: the traditionally rich families of Spanish descent have benefited from the country’s wealth to a much greater extent than the majority mixed-race (mestizo) population. Upward social mobility is quite limited.
+ Appearances matter. Colombians are fashion conscious and judge people on their appearance. They believe that clothes indicate social standing and success.
+ Colombians are outgoing and are quick to make friends, especially with foreign visitors. They enjoy sharing meals with friends and will often invite you out after a short acquaintance.
+ Colombians have an indirect communication style and rely on facial expression, tone of voice and posture to tell what they feel. They often trust non-verbal messages more than the spoken word.
+ Although Colombians are friendly, it is best to err on the side of formality rather than jeopardize a business relationship because you were too informal.
+ When meeting in a professional context, allow the Colombian to determine when it’s time to discuss business. The preference is to converse informally, part of the relationship-building process, before moving to more serious topics.
+ Because decisions may be reached on the basis of personal sentiment, spend time cultivating the personal relationship.

- from RW3′s CultureWizard™ Country Profiles

RW3 CultureWizard