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| Sunday, 27 October 2002 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Greeting your guest Business Style by J.A.A.S. Ranasinghe * Americans invariably shake hands during introductions. Business cards are automatically exchanged at dining tables. Breakfast meetings are popular with Americans. Meetings over lunch are the rule rather than the exception. * The usual way for a Japanese to greet is a long, low bow and not a handshake. Business cards must be exchanged at the first meeting and should be offered and accepted with both hands. Never address the Japanese guest by his first name. Instead of addressing a Japanese as Mr....., the best option is ..... San. Japanese have an aversion to close physical contact; hence backslapping or holding an elbow should be avoided. It is regarded as impolite for Japanese to say "No" and you should avoid pressing a question to the point that your guest has little option. Gifts should be wrapped in pastel-coloured paper (never in white and bows). Gifts in twos are supposed to bring good luck, but never in fours (four also stands for death). * The standard greeting for Arabs is "Salaam Alayakum" (Peace be upon you) followed by a handshake or the right hand may be placed over your heart and your guest may place his hand on your right shoulder and kiss you on both cheeks. It is discourteous to show the soles of your shoes when you sit down. Remember that under the Islamic law, there are strict rules regarding some aspects of commercial transactions and you should be prepared to accommodate these before the meeting starts. Dining out is the most popular form of entertainment, perhaps followed by a night club or a casino, if your guest enjoys gambling? It is good table manners to offer refreshments (tea, coffee, sweet cakes and chocolates) to your Arab guest. They would be offended by being offered alcohol. In traditional Arab meals, the right hand is used to eat. It is impolite to gesture with the left hand and to point with the finger. Small gifts such as flowers while attending a dinner and expensive gifts such as silver, crystal and porcelain are acceptable, but avoid handkerchieves which are symbolised with tears and parting. Many Muslim business guests no longer regard alcohol as being an appropriate accompaniment to meals and it is safer to offer only the soft drink. * Making speeches and toasting your Scandinavian guests at dinners are popular, toasts are initiated by the host and responded to with "Skol" and a nod of the head by his fellow diners; afterwards everyone joins in with a toast of their own. They tend to show much courtesy to women, and men are expected to walk on a woman's left side. Exchanging business gifts of modest value is acceptable, but more extravagant offerings can cause offence. * Continental Europeans such as French, Germans, Dutch and Italians have their own table manners and etiquette. French businessmen prefer to conduct their dealings in French language. Warmer embraces including double kisses to the cheeks are common. Germans expect a great degree of formality in business dealings. Humour with Germans should be handled with care. Dutch businessmen are capable of handling their business matters in a number of languages and are usually fluent in English language. Both Italian and spanish businessmen are less concerned about the formality and punctuality of meetings. There are no taboos connected with business entertaining and the exchange of appropriate gifts is acceptable. The writer is a former Human Resources and Administration Manager of Colombo Dockyard Limited. |
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