Asian Business Asian Business EtiquetteEtiquette

Tina FongTina Fong

Stacy ZhangStacy Zhang

IntroductionIntroduction

► Importance of Understanding cultureImportance of Understanding culture►Attire and AppearanceAttire and Appearance►BehaviorBehavior►Business Card Etiquette – Japan, Business Card Etiquette – Japan,

China, and KoreaChina, and Korea►Conclusion and TakeawaysConclusion and Takeaways

Attire and AppearanceAttire and Appearance

►Dress is according to statusDress is according to status►Casual Dress is never appropriateCasual Dress is never appropriate

Men’s and Women’s AttireMen’s and Women’s Attire

► Men: Dark and Conservative attireMen: Dark and Conservative attire► Women: Conservative also, little or no Women: Conservative also, little or no

accessories, absolutely no pants (very accessories, absolutely no pants (very offensive), low heeled shoesoffensive), low heeled shoes

ProximityProximity

BehaviorBehavior

► Keep your hands to your sides and don’t have Keep your hands to your sides and don’t have them in your pocketsthem in your pockets

► Don’t stand with legs crossed overDon’t stand with legs crossed over► Don’t lean against objects or wallsDon’t lean against objects or walls► Do not stare and do not make eye contact; In Do not stare and do not make eye contact; In

Japan, this is considered rudeJapan, this is considered rude► Do not sit in a way that shows the soles of your Do not sit in a way that shows the soles of your

shoes shoes ► Sit on the edge of a chair or sofa to show respectSit on the edge of a chair or sofa to show respect► In Japan, avoid making the “ok” sign since this In Japan, avoid making the “ok” sign since this

means money and could be interpreted means money and could be interpreted negativelynegatively

Behavior ContinuedBehavior Continued

► In Japan, avoid pointing because it is viewed as very In Japan, avoid pointing because it is viewed as very ruderude

► In Japan, it is offensive to blow your nose in public. In Japan, it is offensive to blow your nose in public. Make sure to excuse yourself to the bathroomMake sure to excuse yourself to the bathroom

► Be cautious of facial expressions, smiling can either Be cautious of facial expressions, smiling can either mean joy, sadness, anger or embarrassment in Japanmean joy, sadness, anger or embarrassment in Japan

► The Japanese are not uncomfortable with silence. You The Japanese are not uncomfortable with silence. You should be patient and give them their silence. Do not should be patient and give them their silence. Do not try to fill in the voidtry to fill in the void

► The Japanese see guests all the way to exits, and wait The Japanese see guests all the way to exits, and wait until they are out of sightuntil they are out of sight

► In many Asian cultures, they view work as a group In many Asian cultures, they view work as a group effort rather than individual efforteffort rather than individual effort

Business CardBusiness Card

► In any business travel, arrange to have In any business travel, arrange to have business cards printed in English and business cards printed in English and the local language on the other side.the local language on the other side.

►Presentation of yourself to Presentation of yourself to businesspeople in Asia is culturally businesspeople in Asia is culturally different from dealing with American different from dealing with American businesspeoplebusinesspeople

JapanJapan

► You do not need to wait to present your cardYou do not need to wait to present your card► Hold card with both hands so they can read Hold card with both hands so they can read

your nameyour name► Then bow, and say your nameThen bow, and say your name► If presenting yourself to more than one If presenting yourself to more than one

person, be sure to start at highest rank person, be sure to start at highest rank downwards. It is disrespectful to present downwards. It is disrespectful to present yourself to lower ranked people before higher yourself to lower ranked people before higher rankrank

► Never put cards in wallet or pocketNever put cards in wallet or pocket► Always bow in returnAlways bow in return

ChinaChina

►Present your card before asking for Present your card before asking for others’ cardsothers’ cards

► In both China and Japan it is polite to In both China and Japan it is polite to accept cards with both handsaccept cards with both hands

► It is rude to put the card away It is rude to put the card away immediatelyimmediately

►Bow in return to show respectBow in return to show respect

KoreaKorea

► Present your card before asking for other’sPresent your card before asking for other’s► When receiving a business card, nod your When receiving a business card, nod your

head in respect and to thank them for the head in respect and to thank them for the opportunity to meet themopportunity to meet them

► It IS appropriate to put the card away It IS appropriate to put the card away immediately because it would be impolite or immediately because it would be impolite or ignorant to look at the card for too longignorant to look at the card for too long

► Nodding is especially important for senior Nodding is especially important for senior workers and high ranked businesspeopleworkers and high ranked businesspeople

► Always nod in returnAlways nod in return

Key Things to RememberKey Things to Remember

► Dress appropriately and conservativelyDress appropriately and conservatively► Show respect Show respect ► Prepare business cards and consider having Prepare business cards and consider having

them printed in local languages as well as them printed in local languages as well as EnglishEnglish

► Before traveling, learn key phrases and Before traveling, learn key phrases and words: Please, Thank You, etc.words: Please, Thank You, etc.

► If in doubt, always do research about the If in doubt, always do research about the culture to know customs and avoid culture to know customs and avoid inappropriate or rude behaviorinappropriate or rude behavior