When Mr Gubin's wife is Mrs Gubina
*When Mr Gubin`s wife is Mrs Gubina* ** ** ** ** ** ** ** *It's
important
to learn the nuances of business etiquette in the country you are
visiting.
* * * *A young vice-president of a large Indian engineering firm went
on his
first business trip to China last month and had, quite thoughtfully,
taken
small gifts for his hosts based in Shanghai. His experience shows why
it's
important to learn the business etiquette in the country you are
visiting.
For, it varies widely from country to country and not knowing the
nuances of
business etiquette can cause a major embarrassment. * * * *At his
first
meeting, the executive offered a nicely gift-wrapped present to his
Chinese
counterpart. The HR manager in his company had told him that the
Chinese
love token presents. To his surprise, the Chinese gentleman smilingly
declined to accept the gift. Thinking that he was just being polite,
the
Indian executive offered the gift again, but rather sheepishly put it
back
in his bag as the Chinese declined it for the second time. * * * *He
obviously didn't want to offend the sentiment of his host. But little
did he
know that it is part of the business etiquette in China to refuse
gifts
three times before accepting them. The presenter of the gift was
supposed to
graciously request him to accept it thrice. * * * *Thus, it's
advisable to
know the culture of a place before you offer business gifts. For
example,
giving cutlery as a gift to your business partner in Argentina will be
symbolically interpreted that the giver has decided to end a
relationship! *
* * *Also, in many European nations, an even number of flowers fewer
than a
dozen is appropriate only for funerals. And don't give chrysanthemums
or red
roses as gifts in many of these countries. While the former is given
only at
funerals, the latter will be interpreted as trying to be romantic. An
Indian
business manager who gave roses to his prospective business partner in
Italy
was initially thought by his guest to be gay! * * * *The V-P didn't
have to
pay for his mistake heavily as his trip was more fact-finding in
nature. But
talk to many of today's "global managers" and you will find examples
galore
of things going horribly wrong due to the lack of knowledge of the
business
etiquette of the country they were visiting. * * * *The V-P gives
several
examples of the dos and don'ts of business etiquette in China. For
example,
do not give clocks or anything in white, blue or black to any Chinese
business host, as they are associated with death in that country.
Imagine an
Indian manager (a Hindu, particularly) getting a leather bag from a
foreigner who proudly proclaims that it is made from cow hide. * * *
*Attending
a dinner without knowing the business etiquette of the country you are
visiting can also be hazardous. While in most European nations, a
business
guest is expected to eat all of the food given to them as a compliment
to
the quality of the cooking, don't do the same if you are in China.
For, your
Chinese guest will assume you did not have enough food and are still
hungry.
* * * *While on the topic of business dinners, if you are in Moscow,
don't
ever leave an empty bottle on the table. It's considered to be very
poor
manners. As soon as you finish the bottle, move it to the floor so
that it
is off the table. * * * *There is a lot to learn even on maintaining
eye
contact with your business partners. In Ireland, for example, it is
considered politer to maintain eye contact as not doing so will imply
you
are not interested or ignoring the other person. But it is exactly the
opposite when you are in Japan. In Tokyo, the lesser the eye contact,
the
better off you are. The Japanese view direct eye contact as an affront
and
prefer only an occasional glance. * * * *If you are on a business trip
to
Japan, you should receive even a business card with both hands (taking
it
with one hand is considered insulting) and bow subtly. And read the
card
with great interest. The short point is simply taking the card and
putting
it in your pocket is considered rude. * * * *It's also advisable to
brush up
your knowledge on naming conventions. For example, many surnames
change
based on gender after marriage. In Russia, for example, Mr Gubin's
wife
would be called Mrs Gubina. Referring to her as Mrs Gubin is
considered to
be a serious faux pas. * * * *Examples like this would make you think
that
it's better to stay back in India where Mr Pradhan's wife would be
just Mrs
Pradhan and not Mrs Pradhana. But since that's hardly an option if you
want
your career graph to rise rapidly, rush to the next business etiquette
training course. *
important
to learn the nuances of business etiquette in the country you are
visiting.
* * * *A young vice-president of a large Indian engineering firm went
on his
first business trip to China last month and had, quite thoughtfully,
taken
small gifts for his hosts based in Shanghai. His experience shows why
it's
important to learn the business etiquette in the country you are
visiting.
For, it varies widely from country to country and not knowing the
nuances of
business etiquette can cause a major embarrassment. * * * *At his
first
meeting, the executive offered a nicely gift-wrapped present to his
Chinese
counterpart. The HR manager in his company had told him that the
Chinese
love token presents. To his surprise, the Chinese gentleman smilingly
declined to accept the gift. Thinking that he was just being polite,
the
Indian executive offered the gift again, but rather sheepishly put it
back
in his bag as the Chinese declined it for the second time. * * * *He
obviously didn't want to offend the sentiment of his host. But little
did he
know that it is part of the business etiquette in China to refuse
gifts
three times before accepting them. The presenter of the gift was
supposed to
graciously request him to accept it thrice. * * * *Thus, it's
advisable to
know the culture of a place before you offer business gifts. For
example,
giving cutlery as a gift to your business partner in Argentina will be
symbolically interpreted that the giver has decided to end a
relationship! *
* * *Also, in many European nations, an even number of flowers fewer
than a
dozen is appropriate only for funerals. And don't give chrysanthemums
or red
roses as gifts in many of these countries. While the former is given
only at
funerals, the latter will be interpreted as trying to be romantic. An
Indian
business manager who gave roses to his prospective business partner in
Italy
was initially thought by his guest to be gay! * * * *The V-P didn't
have to
pay for his mistake heavily as his trip was more fact-finding in
nature. But
talk to many of today's "global managers" and you will find examples
galore
of things going horribly wrong due to the lack of knowledge of the
business
etiquette of the country they were visiting. * * * *The V-P gives
several
examples of the dos and don'ts of business etiquette in China. For
example,
do not give clocks or anything in white, blue or black to any Chinese
business host, as they are associated with death in that country.
Imagine an
Indian manager (a Hindu, particularly) getting a leather bag from a
foreigner who proudly proclaims that it is made from cow hide. * * *
*Attending
a dinner without knowing the business etiquette of the country you are
visiting can also be hazardous. While in most European nations, a
business
guest is expected to eat all of the food given to them as a compliment
to
the quality of the cooking, don't do the same if you are in China.
For, your
Chinese guest will assume you did not have enough food and are still
hungry.
* * * *While on the topic of business dinners, if you are in Moscow,
don't
ever leave an empty bottle on the table. It's considered to be very
poor
manners. As soon as you finish the bottle, move it to the floor so
that it
is off the table. * * * *There is a lot to learn even on maintaining
eye
contact with your business partners. In Ireland, for example, it is
considered politer to maintain eye contact as not doing so will imply
you
are not interested or ignoring the other person. But it is exactly the
opposite when you are in Japan. In Tokyo, the lesser the eye contact,
the
better off you are. The Japanese view direct eye contact as an affront
and
prefer only an occasional glance. * * * *If you are on a business trip
to
Japan, you should receive even a business card with both hands (taking
it
with one hand is considered insulting) and bow subtly. And read the
card
with great interest. The short point is simply taking the card and
putting
it in your pocket is considered rude. * * * *It's also advisable to
brush up
your knowledge on naming conventions. For example, many surnames
change
based on gender after marriage. In Russia, for example, Mr Gubin's
wife
would be called Mrs Gubina. Referring to her as Mrs Gubin is
considered to
be a serious faux pas. * * * *Examples like this would make you think
that
it's better to stay back in India where Mr Pradhan's wife would be
just Mrs
Pradhan and not Mrs Pradhana. But since that's hardly an option if you
want
your career graph to rise rapidly, rush to the next business etiquette
training course. *
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