Business Etiquette in Europe
The European economy relies significantly on trading with other countries, and produces a number of products that are of interest to international professionals. If you are interested in doing business in Europe, it is important to display proper European business etiquette in order to make a favorable first impression and build a lasting professional relationship.
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England
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Professionals in the United Kingdom take great pride in looking polished and well groomed; international professionals should take note of this and dress accordingly. Men are expected to wear black or navy blue business suits, and women can wear business suits as well. Female professionals are also permitted to wear dresses or blouses to the offices, and accessories are acceptable. It is necessary to bring business cards to all meetings, but there is no formal method for exchanging the cards. When referring to professionals in England, it is proper etiquette to use titles and a surname until invited to address the businessperson on a first-name basis. Business negotiation decisions are made by the top executives in a company, and could take a considerable amount of time; it is best for international colleagues to maintain decorum, and not to show any signs of aggravation of impatience.
France
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It is essential to arrive for business meetings on time in France, as punctuality is highly valued by professionals there. Meetings often begin and end with small talk; international colleagues should know that meetings are mainly held to discuss business matters, not necessarily to settle them. It is best for men and women to avoid especially flashy accessories when dressing for the office; however, French professionals do tend to be particularly stylish when dressing, so patterned clothing and tailored suits are acceptable. It is not a requirement to give a French professional a gift at an initial meeting, but professionals from other countries should be sure to present a bottle of quality wine or dessert to the host of a home when invited for dinner or a drink.
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Germany
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German professionals are very detailed-oriented, so it is appropriate to bring charts or graphs to a meeting when entering into negotiations. While businesspeople in Germany may take a while to reach a final decision on negotiation terms, once the terms have been agreed upon, German colleagues prefer to start working according to said terms right away. It is always best to use titles and surnames when referring to colleagues in Germany, especially during the initial business meeting. Men should be addressed as "Herr' (Mr.), along with their title and surname, and women should be addressed as "Frau" (Mrs.) in addition to their surname and title. Gifts are not required at initial meetings, but small tokens such as souvenirs from the international professional's country are appropriate. When giving flowers as a gift, it is proper etiquette to avoid giving lilies or roses---lilies are reserved for funerals in Germany, and roses are presented to a person to show romantic interest.
Finland
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When dressing for a business meeting in Finland, it is best for men and women to wear dark-colored business suits, although medium-hued suits in colors such as gray are also acceptable. Women are permitted to wear pants in the workplace, and accessories should be conservative. When addressing Finnish professionals, it is appropriate to use titles and surnames until invited to call the professional by his first name---which is quite common in the country. It is best to arrive for professional appointments on time; small talk is not a priority in Finland, as professionals like to start discussing business as quickly as possible.
Italy
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Italian professionals tend to be very stylish; it is acceptable for a men to wear brightly colored shirts with dark business suits, and women can be more creative with accessories. Women also are expected to wear high heels to the office. Business cards are customarily exchanged before a business meeting, using one hand, though it doesn't matter if it is the right or left hand. It is proper etiquette to have professional and educational titles printed on the business card; Italian professionals with graduate degrees should be addressed as 'Dottore' (for men) or 'Dottoressa' (for women), followed by the businessperson's surname. When invited to an Italian professional's home for dinner, it is best to bring a gift such as quality wine or chocolates.
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