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 |  Subject: Business Culture in Switzerland  Wed Apr 02, 2014 12:09 am | |
| Business Culture in Switzerland The international business in a foreign country always have certain intercultural challenges. Differences in culture mean differences in etiquette and protocol and they are important in achieving success abroad.To doing business in Switzerland, we need know points about business culture and etiquette. The following is the detailed about some important key for consideration when doing business in Switzerland.Meeting and GreetingWhen meeting people, you shake hands with everyone present. Handshakes are firm and combined with eye contact. Shake hands with men, women, and children -- at business or social meetings and shake hands again when leaving.Use last names and appropriate titles until specifically invited by your Swiss hosts or colleagues to use their first names. Academic and professional titles are used frequently.Communication:Business people usually speak in quiet, gentle tones. Speaking slowly and clearly is a sign of authority, and loud or boisterous behavior is perceived as a lack of self-control. And interrupting others is considered rude. The Swiss are a very private people, so you should avoid asking personal questions. For example, refrain from inquiries concerning their occupation, age, marital status, religion, and related matters. It will not pry into your personal affairs in the course of a conversation.The extent to which the Swiss use body language varies. German Swiss use it sparingly and generally do not use a lot of non-verbal communication. All of these are more extensive with French or Italian Swiss. The American OK sign, with thumb and index finger forming a circle, can be read as an obscene gesture in Switzerland. Eye contact should be frequent, almost to the point of staring, as this conveys sincerity and helps build trust.Corporate CultureEtiquette is one of the foundations of modern civilisation, and business is no exception. Business etiquette in Switzerland is key to building the right kind of relationshipsThe Swiss are perhaps the most punctual people on earth. The term for being late, ‘zuspät,’ translates into ‘too late’ in English. Being more than 10 to 15 minutes late without having a valid and plausible excuse can be a serious offense. Arriving ahead of the agreed time may be noted favorably. The Swiss take punctuality for business and social meetings very seriously and expect that you will do likewise or call with an explanation if you will be delayed. Only if you have a very good reason you are excused when being lateYou should avoid scheduling important appointments for July and August when most Swiss take their annual vacation.Business climate is very conservative. Meetings are generally impersonal, brisk, orderly, planned and task oriented. Meetings with German Swiss tend to get straight down to business with little small talk. In any case, business is regarded with the utmost seriousness and humor has no place in negotiations. Cracking jokes or urging others to 'lighten up' during a meeting will probably be received with hostilityPresentations and reports should be orderly, well-prepared, thorough and detailed. Materials should be attractive, with good and clear visuals. Keep your presentation clear and concise. The Swiss are generally suspicious of hype and exaggerationsBusiness and private life are strictly separated. It is therefore not acceptable to call a Swiss businessperson at home, unless there is an emergency.Business luncheons are more common than business breakfasts and dinner are the most popular times for business meals. it is almost always done in a restaurant. At restaurants, especially those used for business lunches and dinners, keep conversations at a quiet level. When you are finished eating, place knife and fork side by side on the plate at the 5:25 positionKeep your hands on the table at all times during a meal -- not in your lap. However, keep your elbows off the table. Don't smoke at the dinner table. Wait, watch and ask permission before smoking. Refrain from putting your hands in your pockets while talking with peopleGift giving in business settings is rare. It is best not to bring a gift to an initial meeting in order to avoid raising suspicions about your motivesDress codeThe Swiss are discreet people. You should dress conservatively. You should not flaunt wealth or wear luxury objects, except, of course, Swiss watchesYour appearance should always be clean and neat. In a business setting, dress should be conservative and formal and certainly not too fashionable. During official meetings, men should wear dark suits and ties; women should wear suits or dresses.Decisions and NegotiationsSwiss business culture has a rigid, deeply entrenched hierarchy. They will refuse to rush a decision until they have properly examined all the facts and information and reported these to the decision maker. Only the highest individuals in authority make the final decision even if others disagree with it . Moreover, although everyone involved or affected must be in agreement, the final decision will pass unquestioned once it is reached. Once a decision has been made, it is extremely difficult to change. The decision process is slow. Pressurizing tactics are counterproductive. There is no way of speeding up decisions. The best tactic is to wait patientlyThe Swiss are known for getting the best possible deal in negotiations without ever appearing aggressive or demandingNegotiations take place slow so we need control emotions, and accept the inevitable delays, patience is required. Discussions are very precise, cautious and sometimes tend to be a little gloomy. Decision-making is slow and methodical. The Swiss are considered hard but fair bargainers. |
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