Friday, March 23, 2018

Chinese Business Culture Facts And Practices

By Kevin Schmidt


When visiting other countries, it can often be difficult to know how to act in a business meeting. When it comes to Chinese Business Culture facts, it is important to know several before leaving home. For, while some etiquette is the same as other countries, there are differences when it comes to China. First, it is important to restrain any feelings of excitement or appreciation. In almost all cases, it is important to keep calm and maintain composure. Being polite, using kind words and showing a faint smile is often the best greeting.

It is also important that when attending a meeting or providing a presentation the individual be extremely prepared. If delivering a proposal, it is important to have enough handouts for all attendee. In addition, it is important that only black and white ink be used whether in presentation slides or handouts.

When it comes to the initial greeting, small talk is generally expected. In some cases, this time can be used to plan future events. Whereas, most often these brief discussions are related to office decor, weather and general conversation. As a rule, it is often best to avoid conversations related to policies or practices associated with a country or countries.

Delays are often common when working with China as asking for extensions to extend deadlines is often standard practice. For, the Chinese often feel that in doing so the country gains an advantage in the process. As such, accepting these delays without mentioning deadlines is often greatly appreciated.

Most often, Chinese business people enter rooms in hierarchical order. As this is the case, it is important that other countries follow this protocol when meeting. Otherwise, those in charge of the may target conversation and information in the wrong direction. When this is the case, the information being shared can often become confusing to attendees.

While there are business meetings year round, the most favorable time for these events is between April and June and September and October. For, these are the least busiest times of year for the Chinese. As such, it is often best to schedule meetings during this time of year. In China, operating hours are from 8 in the morning to 5 in the evening on weekdays, often with a two hour break from noon to 2 in the afternoon. At which time everything shuts down from telephones to elevators.

While handshakes are a common greeting, it is important to allow the host to initiate the gesture. For, not all individuals are comfortable with this type contact. By waiting, an individual can assure to return the same type of gesture in response.

Most often, business personnel prefer to be referred to properly with title of position and last name. For example, Chairman, President and other titles followed by the last name of the individual. While this is the case, it is never appropriate to use the term comrade is it identifies oneself as being pro-communist.

Whether at the beginning, during or at the end, speaking a few words in Chinese is often a nice gesture. At the same time, if an individual is going to use the Chinese language, it is important to understand the meaning behind the words. For, if not careful, it can be easy to misspeak in ways which can often cause tension among attendees throughout the course of the meeting.




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