Etiquette of conducting

international meetings
 Why is meeting etiquette important in
business?

 Meeting etiquette is really important for several reasons. First, it

improves communication between you and your team if everyone
is adhering and respecting certain manners at work and in
meetings. This standard of communication encourages an
environment where every person respects one another, everyone is
heard and everyone feels comfortable sharing their thoughts.
Meeting etiquette also promotes higher productivity because
central to these etiquette rules are coming prepared, being
organized, listening, and taking turns speaking. This means the
time is being optimized the most effectively. Lastly, it improves
relationships within the working group because when people feel
respected, it also enhances trust which strengthens those business
relationships.
 8 Meeting Etiquette Rules to Remember
1) Be punctual
Being punctual is one of
the most important business
etiquette rules. It shows
professionalism, respect
and proper preparation. It’s
common courtesy for the
rest of the group to get to
the meeting on time so that
you’re respectful of other
people’s time.
2) Come prepared
Make sure that your meeting
agenda is sent far in advance,
with time for the group to
collaborate and make
suggestions for items to add.
If there is any kind of
documentation that was sent
with the meeting invite, be
sure to brief yourself and
familiarize yourself with the
content so that you can
actively participate
3) Speak clearly 4) Actively listen and participate
It’s so important to Find a good balance between
speak loudly enough and actively listening and also
clearly enough so that participating in the discussions
everyone can taking place. A good rule of thumb
understand. Speaking is to listen at least twice as much as
loudly and clearly you speak, especially when there
portrays confidence and are a lot of people in the room.
professionalism. Active listening means that when
it’s your turn to participate you
won’t repeat what has already been
discussed and you can bring fresh
insights, opinions and contributions
to the table.
 8 Meeting Etiquette Rules to Remember
5) Give others the opportunity
to speak
Give others the opportunity
to speak and if you’ve just
spoken, take some time to
actively listen to others. Be
patient in waiting for your
turn to speak and look for
the right cues to contribute
to the conversation
6) Follow the agenda
Do not stray from the meeting
agenda. Staying on topic is good
meeting etiquette because it
respects the time and effort that
has gone into organizing the
meeting and the topics that will be
covered. Now is not the time to
bring up other things that are not
listed to speak about. This is
going to save time and make your
discussion more productive
7) Ask clarifying 8) Be attentive to your body language
questions It’s important to be self-aware of your own
Asking clarifying habits and body language during meetings.
questions is good It’s natural to become restless or bored,
especially during long meetings. That said,
business meeting
it’s important to avoid things such as
etiquette because it
tapping or clicking your pen, fidgeting
shows that you are with your clothes, or jewelry, making quiet
listening and that you noises or humming, and last but not least,
want to properly do NOT pull out your cell phone.
understand what has
been discussed. That
said, make sure that
you are asking
questions at the
appropriate time.
 Doing business isn’t just about knowing your numbers and
being able to sell your product, it’s also about building
relationships and creating trust with the people you work
with. But building a mutual partnership can be especially
tricky when you are dealing with people from different
cultures.

 In order to navigate in today’s business world, you need to

be able to do business with people from all around the
world. Understanding international business etiquette, or the
unwritten rules of behavior, has become increasingly
important in this ever-closer business atmosphere.
 When it comes to international business
etiquette there are things you can do no
matter what country you are going to. If
you are preparing for an international
meeting and you aren’t sure about the
cultures of the people at the meeting, the
following guidelines will guarantee that
you act in a respectful manner and
remember to avoid sensitive areas.
 THE KEY THINGS TO KEEP IN
MIND WHEN DOING BUSINESS
ABROAD

1. Gender roles
When it comes to international business,
gender roles can cause a lot of confusion.
Understanding the appropriate gender etiquette
can help you avoid uncomfortable situations.
Most often, gender roles are about personal
boundaries and physical contact with men and
women. In many countries, especially in the
Arab world, women shouldn’t shake hands
with men, for instance. Furthermore, older
generations in countries like Japan are not
2. Personal space
Personal space varies with respect to
gender, but personal space is important in
other contexts as well. In general, South
American countries can be a lot more
physical, even in a business context, than
Asian countries. Naturally, there are
differences within countries in the same
continent. For example, European nations
are very different when it comes to personal
space. While the French don’t mind kisses
THE KEY THINGS TO KEEP IN
MIND WHEN DOING BUSINESS
ABROAD
3. Business gifts
When it comes to doing
business, handing out gifts is often
considered a lovely thing to do. But
countries and cultures vary greatly
on what type of gifts are considered
appropriate. In many Western
countries, gifts can often be
considered inappropriate in the first
place, while in Asia gifts are very
much expected.
4. The alcohol culture
Food and drink are a big part of doing business these days. In
many countries, a business dinner or lunch is part of the deal
making process, so it is important to understand the food and
drink culture of the country you are travelling to.
The alcohol culture is especially important, as you don’t
want to be ordering wine with your meal in countries where
combining alcohol and business are a big ‘no-no’. It isn’t
even just about cultures where alcohol is fully prohibited.
☼ Even countries such as Australia, where drinking is not
unusual after work, drinking during business meetings is
discouraged. On the other hand, in Russia, sharing a drink
with your business partners can help establish a closer
relationship.
 CONCLUSION

 My presentation should provide you plenty of

insight into the key aspects of international
business etiquette. The importance of correct and
respectful behavior is enormous and it could be
the difference between success and failure. It is
crucial to start preparing yourself early and learn
enough about the specific country before you
must travel or meet partners from these countries.
 Be mindful of the differences in the culture and
try to showcase great understanding and interest
toward the specific culture. Don’t be fazed by
making mistakes. Good preparation should keep
you safe, but if you happen to upset your business
partners, apologize and explain yourself.
THANK YOU FOR ATTENTION!