BUSINESS ETIQUETTE PORTUGAL ПОДГОТОВИЛ(А): ВЕРХОВОДОВА Ю.С. ГРУППА: РСО CB-21

Before you attend a business meeting, it is recommended to have a general understanding of Portugals cultural background. The culture colors all areas of life and business encounters are no exception. During your stay in the country, you may notice that there are substantial differences between regions.

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS & COMMUNICATION The Portuguese prefer to do business with those they feel comfortable with, which means those that they know they can trust. Expect to invest a great deal of time developing the relationship. The Portuguese prefer face-to-face meetings rather than written or telephonic communication, which are seen as too impersonal. If your Portuguese business colleagues have questions or want clarification during a presentation, they will wait until you have finished speaking and not interrupt. Although the Portuguese are not emotive speakers and do not use hand gestures, they may be demonstrative when greeting friends.. If you tend to use hand gestures while speaking, you may wish to moderate your behavior since it may incorrectly be viewed as overtly demonstrative. They have a more relaxed attitude towards time and do not see deadlines as crucial as people from many other cultures do. They do not appreciate direct criticism, even if you consider it to be justified Status is important in Portugal.

DRESS Long-sleeved shirts and blouses are typical; Portuguese business people do not wear short sleeves. Being well groomed and having all clothing neatly pressed is appreciated. In Portuguese society appearance is very important, especially in the cities. The Portuguese tend to value looking good and have a keen sense of style. For Men: dark colored conservative suits with shirts and ties. For Women: stylish business suits or dresses and blouses. Make-up and accessories are usually worn.

TITLE & BUSINESS CARDS Titles are important and it is best to address people directly by using Mr., Mrs., or Miss, followed by the surname. Note: Señhor is for Mr., " Señhora " is Mrs. Use the formal rather than the informal case until your Portuguese friend suggests otherwise. There is no specific protocol surrounding the giving and receiving of business cards. It is always best to treat the card with respect.

MEETING Appointments are mandatory and should be made 1 to 2 weeks in advance. Reconfirm the meeting a few days in advance. Arriving on time for a meeting is important as punctuality is valued. People from the north are generally more punctual than those in the south. The main purposes of initial meetings are to get to know one another and discuss, not to make decisions. Maintain eye contact when speaking. Meetings may be interrupted. Get all commitments in writing and do not assume any verbal promises to be true. Be patient with your Portuguese hosts, and you will reap the rewards of a strong business relationship.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION The key to successful negotiations with your Portuguese counterparts is to respect their culture and values, however, at the same time clearly assert, in a polite way, what your conditions are. The key is reaching a mutual agreement.

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