Business Manners & Etiquette in Japan Business etiquette in Japan is highly influenced by social structure and culture, cultivating a very specific way of behaving during social interactions and business deals. Understanding the business culture do and don’ts in addition to Japanese body language, negotiations and ethics can help you a lot. - Business etiquette in Japan is highly influenced by social structure and culture, cultivating a very specific way of behaving during social interactions and business deals. Understanding the business culture do and don’ts in addition to Japanese body language, negotiations and ethics can help you a lot.
- Currently Japan has the highest outbound investment ratio in the world and the government is providing so many subsidies to encourage foreign startups to come to Japan and do business here. This means that more people are learning the more intricate ways of social interactions in Japanese businesses.
- While there are likely more than the unspoken rules of manners and etiquettes listed below, here are 11 important things to remember when conducting business meetings in Japan:
Be early - Time is an important resource in any business. But in Japan, time is strictly observed to the point where it is normal and respectful to arrive at least 10 minutes early to any meeting. Besides being polite, this is also in consideration of potential delays or setbacks, as well as unexpected problems.
- Being early, in general, is also seen as a responsible trait that makes someone appear reliable, which is ideal for making a good first impression on a future business partner.
Be prepared - A lot of the preparations before a business meeting such as printed documents and business cards are symbolic as everything can be accessed digitally or online.
- However, it is a courtesy to the other party to be ready with documents, and business cards, as well as a personal briefcase and card case to keep everything organized.
- In the case of printed materials, it is ideal to provide a copy for everyone attending the meeting. But as it’s not always fixed how many are attending, it’s best to ask the associates from the other party an appropriate amount of time before the meeting, like a day or two before, to prepare the documents.
- However, there may be a case when the meeting will not require printed documents. So when in doubt, simply ask.
Business cards - While business cards may seem like a small thing, there are proper ways to give and receive them in Japan. The order of giving business cards starts with the senior officer, working its way down to the most junior.
- Business cards are given and received with two hands and with a short bow as if for a greeting or a thank you.
- However, instead of immediately storing them in a business card case, they are normally placed on top of the table until the end of the meeting. This is also a good habit to use when trying to remember the names and titles of the people in the meeting.
Mind your clothes - Presentation plays a big role in making an impression on people, especially when it comes to conducting business. In Japan, business people would usually stick to simple and dark colors such as black or greys since they tend to look clean and more professional. Besides the normal suits, it is also acceptable to wear trousers during meetings.
- While there may be exceptions such as during summers where a shirt and a pair of khakis are acceptable, jeans are too casual to conduct any sort of business with.
- Any outerwear such as winter coats and jackets should always be taken off outside the office. Suit jackets should always be worn in the office and during meetings unless it becomes too uncomfortable or hot in the summers.
Do not pressure - Business deals in Japan are very rarely closed in the first meeting, so don’t be too discouraged to find yourself walking away empty-handed. Japanese businesses tend to plan for the long-term, preferring to get to know you, and your products and services and establishing a business deal – a lot like making friends or courting.
- Similarly, it is off-putting to put pressure on the host or the other party to make a decision on the spot.
- The Japanese are known to avoid direct statements, making it easy for someone unfamiliar with this nature to misinterpret responses such as “it is difficult” or “we’ll think about it”. Although these phrases seem hopeful, they are also a polite and indirect way of saying “no”, as well as changing the topic or pretending not to understand.
- Unlike in Western countries, bowing is a way to greet someone in the majority of East Asia, Japan included. There are mainly 3 ways to bow, depending on how much you respect someone or how apologetic you are.
- Bowing slightly at 15 degrees is the more casual or informal way of greeting someone. During meetings, however, people would normally bow at 30 to 45 degrees and hold it for a couple of seconds.
- In this same aspect, when the host shows you to the elevator, don’t be surprised if they bow for a few seconds or until the elevator comes. When this happens, it’s good to mimic the motion for about the same time to be polite.
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