Namibia Business Etiquette
Namibia is known for its production of diamonds and minerals, but the country depends on other regions of the world for resources such as fuel and food. Since the Namibian economy depends on and produces quality materials, it is best for professionals who are visiting the country to be familiar with corporate etiquette to make a good first impression and establish a successful partnership.
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Professional Greetings
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Business professionals usually greet one another with a firm handshake while making eye contact with each other. Some Namibian professionals will engage in a traditional African handshake, in which the hands are clasped in the same way as a handshake in the Western world, but the individuals lock their thumbs and point them upwards before returning to the Western handshake. Women generally do not shake hands when meeting for the first time; however, if a woman is greeting an elder woman of higher professional rank, the woman with the lower professional status will often extend her right hand for a handshake while making a small curtsy. Even when professionals are not in a meeting setting, it is polite to greet Namibians when in public. Greetings can be extended in English or Afrikaans, the second official language of the country.
Communication
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Namibian professionals are not confrontational, so using harsh or abrasive language during a meeting is not proper. In many cases, a business professional in Namibia will tell a foreign professional what they want to hear for the meeting to go smoothly, but facts should always be checked to ensure the proposed negotiation terms can be met. When engaging in conversation or small talk before a meeting, it is best to stick to topics such as family, work and sports; inquiring about local politics should be avoided.
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Attire
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Men and women are expected to be well-groomed and neat when entering the office--clean and polished shoes for both genders are appreciated as well. Men should wear a shirt and tie, along with slacks or dress pants; a business suit is not required. Women can wear a skirt and blouse, but dress pants are acceptable as well. High heels or dressy sandals are ideal, and women should refrain from wearing clothes that are revealing or form-fitting.
Titles and Business Cards
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Foreign professionals should refer to their Namibian colleagues as Mr. or Mrs. followed by the last name if the Namibian does not have a professional title. It is acceptable to refer to someone by their professional title alone if they possess one (director, attorney). It is also common for Namibians to address one another by last name only. If a foreign colleague does not know the last name of a professional, using the Afrikaans words for "sir" ("manier") or "ma'am" ("may frou") is proper. It is best to wait to use first names until being invited to do so.
Giving Gifts
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Gifts are not expected in a professional setting, although small gifts such as fruit or books from the international colleague's home country are appreciated. Wrapping the gift is not required; it really is "the thought that counts" when presenting Namibians with items that express appreciation. When invited to the home of a Namibian professional, a guest should bring items such as food from the guest's home country or a beverage for everyone to enjoy at dinner.
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References
- Photo Credit namibia flag image by Vladislav Gajic from Fotolia.com
