Swedish Business Culture

 Proper Swedish business culture is

essential to gain new partners
and clients in Sweden’s business
community.
 In Sweden, proper etiquette is
valued on a personal as well as
business level.
 Your Swedish colleagues
appreciate behavior that is
calm and reserved.
 It is vital that you respect the
personal space of your Swedish
colleagues by not standing too
close and not speaking too
loudly.
 Avoid using any superlatives as
this can be interpreted as a
sign of insincerity.
 Preparing yourself and
understandingthis most
elegant culture will allow you to travel
with ease, execute successful business
transactions and build long-term
beneficial relationships.
 As global growth becomes ever more
de rigueur, becoming confident in
Swedish business etiquette will allow
you to gain new partners and clients
abroad.
 Sweden is an egalitarian society wherein
men and women are treated as
equals.
 It is important that you always provide a
firm hand shake to each and every
person as you enter and as you depart.
 Maintain direct eye contact as well.
Keep in mind that Swedes generally
prefer introduction by a third party.
 Always use titles until told otherwise and
show due respect older Swedes by
using the full title and surname.
 Swedes value direct communication.
 They see it as a way to
express
genuineness and sincerity.
 Using agendas and concrete plans is
helpful, even more so if you send it to
the company before the meeting.
It is important to ad here to the plan
during the meeting.
 Even though small talk isn’t valued as
much with Swedes, as they like to get to
business right away, some brief small talk
at the beginning of the meeting helps to
open the meeting on a pleasant note.
 Impress your Swedish colleagues by
offering a Swedish translation of your
business card and any pertinent
documents you will bring to the
meeting.
 Timing
 Always be punctual, and if by chance
you are going to be late, promptly
notify your Swedish colleagues.
 If you are going to be more than 30
minutes late, offer your colleagues
the option to reschedule.
 All the same it is important to avoid being
too early as you may create a situation
of distress for your Swedish colleague.
 Meetings should never be scheduled
before 9:00 a.m. or after 4:00 p.m.
 And avoid scheduling meetings from June
through August, as many Swedes
vacation during these summer months.
 During conversations, Swedes are
comfortable with silence as they
consider the subject under
discussion.
 There is no need to fill these silences
with idle chatter.
 It is also vital that foreigners not
suggest that one region of Sweden is
better than another as Swedes are
very loyal to their home regions
 And refrain from grouping together the
Northern European peoples.
 Swedes are very different than their
neighbors; Danes, Norwegians,
Finns. Each has a distinct culture. and
 Also, know that sarcasm is seen as rude
and arrogant. Swedes are also very
private and as such it is polite to not
inquire about one’s personal life.
 Swedes prefer to keep separate their
business life and personal life.
 Do feel free to comment on nature or
the weather with your Swedish
colleagues.
 Swedes are very focused on nature and
often take time to admire and
experience it.
Swedish Dress
 Swedes are generally very reserved and
prefer clothing that is elegant and
conservative.
 Do not wear flashy clothes as Swedes
discourage pretentious displays of wealth.
 Senior business people and lower ranking
business people do not dress any differently
from each other, as doing so would mark
status.
 Make sure your clothes are neat and clean,
always wrinkle free.
 Avoid jewelry, overdone make up and
especially strong perfumes.