Trương Tuấn Linh E3

Business Culture of Americans The Differences That Lead to Success

The robust economy of the United States is not only rooted in its inherent
foundations but also in its people. American entrepreneurs with great ideas and
impressive work styles have contributed to the success of the nation. Consequently,
many investors worldwide aspire to come to the U.S. to interact and learn. The
following article will help investors understand more about the business culture of
Americans.
A. Behavior in American Business Culture
1. Natural, Unconventional Style.
The United States is a country that values equality, and its people believe in
equal rights for everyone. Therefore, in business, Americans prioritize a natural,
informal style over formality. Many American entrepreneurs find formalities
unnecessary and bothersome. They are practical but still create a comfortable,
friendly, and pleasant atmosphere for their partners. Naturalness in business helps
eliminate cumbersome procedures, focus on the main issues, and easily achieve
desired goals.

2. Business Cards, Gifts.

Business cards in America serve as a means of exchanging contact
information. Exchanging business cards plays a small role and is not the basis for
trust in business. Gifting in American business culture is not culturally accepted
because they perceive gifts as related to corruption. American entrepreneurs view
gift-giving as bribery and dishonest business practices, which are unethical. If gift-
giving is discovered, the parties involved may face legal consequences, even going to

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court. This transparency is a positive and transparent aspect of American business
culture.

3. Entertainment in Business Entertainment in business is a common way to

build trust and prepare for long-term business relationships. However, in the U.S.,
entrepreneurs often distinguish between business and entertainment. They do not
have a habit of organizing lavish parties to entertain clients.
B. American Work Style:
1. Greeting Style.
For American businessmen, shaking hands is a common form of greeting.
They often use a firm handshake to show friendliness, enthusiasm, and confidence.
Americans rarely touch when greeting, except when they are close or have a special
relationship.
2. Emphasis on Efficiency, Time Savings.
Americans are particularly concerned about efficiency at work because they
believe that only practical and profitable activities are truly valuable. Ineffective
projects or activities are considered wasteful and unethical. Therefore, American
entrepreneurs prioritize efficiency when considering cooperation. In addition, with
the motto "time is money," Americans particularly value time when working with
partners. They prefer purposeful conversations that bring tangible benefits to the
company.

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 3. Responsibility.
American entrepreneurs are known for their sense of responsibility at work.
For Americans, work is the most important and takes precedence over all other
factors in life. They work actively and determinedly to achieve their goals. Creativity,
decision-making, and taking responsibility for ideas have helped American
entrepreneurs achieve great success in the business world.
C. Considerations for Vietnamese Negotiating with Americans:
Vietnamese investors may feel confused or make minor mistakes when
negotiating with Americans for the first time. Some of the following tips will help
investors communicate more effectively with American partners.
Americans particularly value punctuality, adhering to the scheduled time.
Being on time in meetings is crucial because, for Americans, lateness is frowned
upon and creates a negative impression on one's character.
Americans have a quick and efficient work style, avoiding unnecessary delays.
In negotiations, investors should identify their goals and adopt an appropriate
negotiation strategy to achieve the desired results. Americans highly value legal
compliance and commitment, especially in business. Therefore, investors need to
ensure the correct outcome of negotiations to establish credibility and trust with
American entrepreneurs. Business integrity is essential for successful cooperation.
The business culture values of Americans have shaped the country's cultural
identity. These have attracted investors worldwide and those seeking to settle in the
U.S. to enjoy maximum benefits and business development.

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 D. American Cultural Characteristics and Habits
U.S. citizens refer to themselves as Americans. This term has existed
throughout the country's history for over 200 years, and you will still frequently hear
them referred to as such. The United States is a densely populated country, diverse in
ethnicity, making it difficult to describe a typical American. With the characteristics
listed below, remember that American society is made up of people from many
countries with diversity in ethnicity, culture, society, economic circumstances, and
even philosophical beliefs.

1. Individualism
Above all, Americans take pride in individualism and differences. Although
they have close relationships with family and community, individualism and human

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rights are the most important to them. This may sound selfish, but it makes
Americans honest, respectful of others, and ensures human equality.

2. Independence
Related to personal respect, the high value of independence and self-reliance is
a characteristic feature of Americans. From an early age, children are taught to stand
on their own two feet – to be independent. Most American students choose their own
classes, majors, pay for part or all of their tuition, find jobs, and plan their own
marriages, rather than relying on family.

3. Frankness
Honesty and frankness are more important to Americans than preserving
dignity. Sometimes they may seem less tactful when bringing up controversial issues,
making you feel awkward or even offended. Americans always get to the point and
do not spend much time on formalities. Frankness encourages Americans to discuss
disagreements and resolve conflicts rather than resorting to third-party intervention.
You should not confuse this directness with rudeness.

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 4. Casual Attitude
Americans like to dress casually, entertain, and interact with each other in a
relaxed manner, even when there are differences in age or social status. Students call
teachers by their first names and vice versa. International students may see this
behavior as impolite or even rude, but it is part of American culture. Although many
Americans also value tradition, overall, they do not pay much attention to social
rituals.

5. Emphasis on Achievement
Americans highly value achievement. They like to show off their skills to
others, for example, by displaying business achievements in the office or showcasing
awards in sports activities at home. Sometimes, books, newspapers, and movies are
not judged on quality but on sales volume and profits earned. In universities, people
focus on the achievements and the average grades of students.

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 6. Competition and Cooperation
Americans appreciate the achievements they make, so they often compete with
each other. You can see friendly competition and rivalry everywhere. Even the joking
style and quick, witty responses of Americans are a form of competition. Americans
also have a team spirit and collaborate with others to achieve goals.

7. Friendliness
In general, friendships among Americans are shorter and more random than
friendships established in other cultures. This is influenced by the changing nature
and independence of Americans. Americans have clear categories for friendships,
such as work friends, team friends, family friends, etc. Americans can become good
and sincere friends, so it is worth trying to establish a long-term friendship with
American students.

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 8. Americans Ask Many Questions
Americans tend to ask many questions to break the initial unfamiliarity and to
understand the people they meet. Some questions may seem vague, and some may
feel private. However, they do not have malicious intent, and you are not obliged to
answer questions that make you uncomfortable.

9. Americans Are Seen as Practical

Americans are often seen as pragmatic. Success is typically measured by the
amount of money one has, the profit from a business deal, and the material
possessions one owns. However, there are also many Americans who do not
emphasize material success but find joy in simpler pleasures. Many financially
successful Americans still take the time to explore cultural and spiritual values in life.

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10.Americans Value Time
Punctuality is highly valued in American society. Americans organize their
lives according to a schedule. They are always punctual for appointments. For
international students, American students seem to always be in a hurry, making them
seem careless. But Americans are always highly effective at work due to this sense of
urgency.

11. Dynamism
The United States is a dynamic country, constantly changing and evolving. If
you are familiar with a slow pace of life, you may find this pace dizzying. On the
contrary, you will find it exciting.

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 12. Americans Often Lack Knowledge About the World
Many American students are not knowledgeable about geography or world
events. They may ask vague questions about ongoing events or be completely
ignorant about world geography-related issues. Some Americans tend not to care or
ignore the world. Although there have been recent changes, Americans still tend to
travel domestically more than internationally.

13. Silence May Worry Americans

Americans are not accustomed to silence. They would rather talk about the
weather than accept silence in a conversation.

14. Americans Are Open and Eager to Answer Questions

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 If you do not understand a behavior or want to learn more about American
customs and values, do not hesitate to ask questions.

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