Nepal :: Business Etiquette

Culture of Nepal - A Quick Facts::

• Nepal has over 72 Ethnic Groups and over 100 spoken languages are found in the country. As the country's groups of people are so diverse, each group follow their
• own customs and traditions even for festival celebrations, rituals and eating foods. For example, Ethic Group known as "Brahman" are said to be refrained from drinking Alcohol and Buffaloes meats mainly because many of the priests are Brahman who consider consuming such commodities to be impure to mind, body and soul.
• Nepal remained a Hindu Kingdom but has now become a Secular Nation. King was regarded as the reincarnation of Vishnu God and many Nepalese would worship him.
• Music of Nepal is melodic however the modern music is a mixture of beats from the Western Countries Like USA and the Neighboring country India. The interests in POP music has grown in youth while there are still large population of the Nepalese who feel for the true beats of Nepali Music - the folk songs played using a flute and a drum called Madal . For many of the Nepalese living away from home, just listening to a folk song brings them back to Nepal variously!
• Nepalese love arts. It shows in their work in temples and monuments and even at the houses. One such art rich city is the Patan of Kathmandu Valley where one can witness various forms of arts such as wooden arts, stone arts, and paintings.
• Festivals are more than just holidays for Nepalese. They are the moments of devotion to worshiping Gods and Goddesses and keeping family and values together
• The country is extremely diverse in its geographical position, all Nepalese do not share similar culture. Even the same festivals might be celebrated differently on in a different day in the different parts of the country
• The country's population is about 27 million. The most crowded city is the capital, Kathmandu.
• Country is often divided into three regions Terai, Mountains and Himalayas. People of Terai share similar culture that is found in India, because of its closeness to the India section. One such example is the culture of Mithila which is similar to that of India which is only found in the Terai region of Nepal.
• There is a strong believe among the youths in the country that to be rich in Nepal, you either you have to be a politician or a government officer or work at the Tribhuvan International Airport at it's custom department. When asked, "why the country went to war", 9 out 10 nepalese might spell-out corruption as the main reason.

          Business Ettiquette Of Nepal ::

Take off your shoes before entering a temple or one's home.

Ask for permission before entering a Hindu temple.

Taking photographs inside the most temples are considered illegal. Ask for permission before taking photographs of objects, and including Nepali people.

Nepali people are friendly by nature. Have a genuine interest in them. Talk to them. Be friendly as you travel..

Public displays of affection such as kissing may be considered offensive.

Say hello or Namaskar if anyone is initiating a dialogue with you. The form of greeting in Nepal is Namaste or Namaskar. Say it to greet Nepali people. It has a lot of meaning such as hello, how are you, have a nice day, bye bye. To do Namaskar by hand, join your palms together, bring it few inches below you chin facing it upwards.

You may accept handshake offered by both sex male or female, but never offer your hand first to women. Instead you do `Namaskar' Its considered rude for a man to touch a women even shaking a hand, specially married women. Hand shakes are more gentle not strong, so don't feel the person isn't interested, it's just their way.

Roads are narrow and crowded so horns help drivers save lives. They signal pedestrians with each beat of the heart! So be ready to hear horn noise and accept it - don't get upset about it

Khana Khanu Bhayo? - Nepalese may ask you in Nepali, Khana Khanu Bhayo (have you eaten) ? Its a form of greeting more than the question. So go ahead say `you ate one (Khaya)' if you are busy, or they will have you joining their dining table if you say (Chaainaa)!

For Yes : shake your head from side to side, and for NO: nod your head up and down

It is common to see same sex walking together hand in hand or with arms around each other. It is a common friendship gesture in Nepal. Perception of friendship is realized before such terms like Gay or Lesbian. When someone talks to you and taps you while talking to you consider that the person is trying to get your attention - its a Nepali friendship way.

Pointing your finger at people is considered bad - it means wait and I will have something against you! If you have to point at someone, use your upturned hand or lift your chin and say oo.

It is believed that it's uncommon to say Ma Lai Thaha Chaina (I don't know in English). Its often considered rude to say it. So if you have to say "I don't know" try saying it like you knew it! Suppose someone asks you where is America and you didn't know, you would say "Try looking up in the globe?" So people expect answers from you but not the "I don't know" answer!

When you are in a Nepali dining table, there is usually the senior member of the family, usually a female, serving to everyone. She will repeatedly offer food. Consider that as a respect, don't get offended, take a little and say thank you. In Nepali, usually the mother eats last and she makes sure that everyone eats and eats well. That's why you have the repeated offers!

You generally visit someone in a hospital with fruits or some powder mix like a popular Indian made Horlicks. Never visit someone in a hospital empty hand and a happy face!

Elders are called by their title but not by their names. Never call your daddy by his name nor do you call your mummy by her name, it's considered rude. When you visit your friend's parent, you also don't use their names. Brothers and Sisters also do not use their names while calling one another.

Shopping in Nepal start by bargaining. Most products don't have price tags, so you are expected to haggle with shop owners. Don't buy anything without bargaining or if you feel that extra dollars of yours would not hurt poor Nepalese go ahead give your best shot! Bargaining is common for buying stuff like vegetables and groceries, riding a cab, buying gift items such as Nepali Kukuri, Carpets, and just about anything really.

When you touch someone with your feet accidentally, you pay back the respect by tapping the person's shoulder, and then your forehead.

Calling people by names like Dad, Mum, Sister, Brother, Uncle is very common. For example, you say `Amaa' (Mother) or Buba (Dad) to your friend's parents but never call them by their names.

Never tell a girl you don't know that she is beautiful or compliment on her features. Girls consider it impolite and rude - they think you are flirting with them. Most Nepalese girls don't flirt except for a few bunch living in cities breathing western air!.

Slurping - It is common to slurp tea and other hot drinks in restaurants and homes.

Superstition is a part of Nepalese life. Never say a young baby healthy and or fat - they don't like that, they think the baby will get sick afterwards. Never keep your shoes or sandals upside down - it brings bad luck around. Spilling rice on the floor (specially cooked rice) and walking on it is an insult to the Hindu Goddess of Food. For a long journey away from home, you usually depart with a sip of yogurt and/or a red tika (colored mix or powder) on your forehead given by the senior member of your family. Some highly superstitious people will only travel on specific days of the week for leaving home towards a specification directions like north or south. The number 3 is considered unlucky - for example, when three people have to depart from the same location, they leave one after another but not all at same time. It is common to pray before traveling specially on a long journey, so you will see bus drivers with photos of Hindu goddess, incense and bells and doing prayers before beginning the first drive of the day. Its common to see hanging of red dried Chillies in places like homes, restaurants and even in buses - it's done to protect the place from bad spirits.

Fat - If you tell someone he or she is fat, it's a compliment. Say it in Nepali "Tapai Kastoo Moto HooNuuHunChaa". Nepalese like that and most Nepalese like to be called fat. When someone has a big fat belly, it means they have got a lot of money to eat, it shows off. Most big fat bellies in poor countries do walk proudly.

Sharing a meal - You always ask someone around you if that person want's to share your meal. If you take a snack to work, you always ask your colleague if they would like to have a bit out of it. When a Nepali family prepares a special meal or even a special pickle at home, they will send it out to neighbors before they have it themselves. Sharing a meal makes them feel good about it. This is very common specially in remote villages in the country.

Nothing in Nepal works on time. Don't expect punctually. Public buses don't run on time, road traffics are unpredictable, and I didn't know about the meeting time - the kind of excuses you will hear from someone who shows up late in Nepal. Expect everything to slow down. Did you know that it takes hours just to pay your Electricity Bills, forget about paying your telephone Bill - it might take a whole day of waiting in a line! So expect delay at all levels from getting a bus, taxi, plane and getting a room in your hotel

Nepali Topi is the the national cap of Nepal - it's rather the part of the national dress for men. Many Nepalese were Topi proudly and it makes them feel good. One of the best ways to show that you care about Nepal and Nepalese is to wear this cap. Many visitors take back home a Nepali topi and use it in special occasions such for receiving Nepali friends at airport or during celebrations. Nepali Topi makes an unique and simple method to show your affection for Nepal and Nepalese. If you can, wear a Nepali topi while traveling in Nepal - for a Nepali topi on your head you feel like a Nepali and what better experience can be more than that!

Use of bad language is not common even among friends. Visitors to Nepal should avoid using bad language, and remember most city people do understand spoken English.

Licking your fingers is considered a bad manner. In most countries like USA, you lick your fingers if it has touched any edible substances. Doing the same in Nepal in public is considered gross.

Blowing your nose in front of people is considered rude. If you must blow, do it quietly and/or alone.

People spit and throw stuff everywhere- there is no law against littering. Don't complain, just go about your business, ignore it. The most common spitting is from the chewing of Betel Leaf (Paan) and chewable tobacco (Khaine in Nepali)

When women have their monthly (Period or menstruation), they sleep and eat alone without touching anyone in the family for three to four days, they are also kept isolated for a week when they give a birth. Such traditions have been modified to fit family's desire or needs. During untouchable period, women don't visit temples or perform puja (worshiping and making offerings to God ). Some go as far as not celebrating festivals. For example, a sister who has a period during Tihar festival won't give or receive tika (a special mark on forehead).

Most Nepalese eat their meal by hand specially for the Nepali food Dal Bhat and Tarkari

Once someone has eaten from a plate, most Nepalese will not eat from it as it is considered impure (Jutho in Nepali). They feel they might get germs from it. But it is found that many Nepalese women eat leftovers from her husband's plate - for sharing of food is a loving gesture.

Priest play an important role in the lives of Nepalese. He is called in to get a special `birth name' when you are born, he is there to witness your marriage vows, and he is with you at your funeral, and also in selected Hindu festivals like Janai Purnima. He performs puja, worships God and asks God for forgiveness of your sins. They are passionate people, they love their job like no other. Never criticise the job of a priest, even if you don't agree.

Traditional Nepalese marriage is a deal between the parents. The boy, his mother and his father will come to see the girl and her parents. She will offer them tea. He will get to see her for a while, and the deal is made by the parents. If its not good enough, they will go search for another deal.

People who don't look like the ordinary Nepalese will get lots of looks and even constant staring. Specially when you are away from the main cities like Kathmandu, you will be noticed constantly by many people including beautiful Nepalese kids whose curious eyes will be all around you. Smile and Enjoy

Nepalese don't eat beet, but buffalo meat is eaten by certain group of people.

Many of the Nepalese customs are based on traditions and beliefs in Hindu and Buddhist religions. You haven't known about Nepalese untill you have been with all. There are more than 100 ethic groups of Nepalese in Nepal each with their own custom, tradition, and rituals, all sorts speaking different Nepali language

Italy :: Business Etiquette

Italian Society & Culture

Italian Family Values

The family is the centre of the social structure and provides a stabilizing influence for its members. 
. In the north, generally only the nuclear family lives together; while in the south, the extended family often resides together in one house. 
. The family provides both emotional and financial support to its members.

Italian Style

. Appearances matter in Italy. 
. The way you dress can indicate your social status, your family's background, and your education level. 
. First impressions are lasting impressions in Italy. 
. The concept of 'bella figura' or good image is important to Italians. 
. They unconsciously assess another person's age and social standing in the first few seconds of meeting them, often before any words are exchanged. 
. Clothes are important to Italians. 
. They are extremely fashion conscious and judge people on their appearance. 
. You will be judged on your clothes, shoes, accessories and the way you carry yourself.
. Bella figura is more than dressing well. It extends to the aura your project too - i.e. confidence, style, demeanour, etc.

Catholicism

. The primary religion in Italy is Roman Catholic. 
. There are more Catholic churches per capita in Italy than in any other country. 
. Although church attendance is relatively low, the influence of the church is still high. 
. Many office buildings will have a cross or a religious statue in the lobby. 
. Each day of the year has at least one patron saint associated with it. 
. Children are named for a particular saint and celebrate their saint's day as if it were their own birthday. 
. Each trade and profession has a patron saint. 
. The church promulgates hierarchy, which can be seen in all Italian relationships. 
. They respect and defer to those who are older, those who have achieved a level of business success, and those who come from well-connected families

Etiquette & Customs in Italy

Meeting Etiquette

. Greetings are enthusiastic yet rather formal. 
. The usual handshake with direct eye contact and a smile suffices between strangers.
. Once a relationship develops, air-kissing on both cheeks, starting with the left is often added as well as a pat on the back between men. 
. Wait until invited to move to a first name basis. 
. Italians are guided by first impressions, so it is important that you demonstrate propriety and respect when greeting people, especially when meeting them for the first time. 
. Many Italians use calling cards in social situations. These are slightly larger than traditional business cards and include the person's name, address, title or academic honours, and their telephone number. 
. If you are staying in Italy for an extended period of time, it is a good idea to have calling cards made. Never give your business card in lieu of a calling card in a social situation.

Gift Giving Etiquette

. Do not give chrysanthemums as they are used at funerals. 
. Do not give red flowers as they indicate secrecy. 
. Do not give yellow flowers as they indicate jealousy
. If you bring wine, make sure it is a good vintage. Quality, rather than quantity, is important.
. Do not wrap gifts in black, as is traditionally a mourning colour. 
. Do not wrap gifts in purple, as it is a symbol of bad luck. 
. Gifts are usually opened when received.

Dining Etiquette

If invited to an Italian house: 
. If an invitation says the dress is informal, wear stylish clothes that are still rather formal, i.e., jacket and tie for men and an elegant dress for women. 
. Punctuality is not mandatory. You may arrive between 15 minutes late if invited to dinner and up to 30 minutes late if invited to a party. 
. If you are invited to a meal, bring gift-wrapped such as wine or chocolates. 
. If you are invited for dinner and want to send flowers, have them delivered that day.

Table manners

. Remain standing until invited to sit down. You may be shown to a particular seat. 
. Table manners are Continental -- the fork is held in the left hand and the knife in the right while eating. 
. Follow the lead of the hostess - she sits at the table first, starts eating first, and is the first to get up at the end of the meal. 
. The host gives the first toast. 
. An honoured guest should return the toast later in the meal. 
. Women may offer a toast. 
. Always take a small amount at first so you can be cajoled into accepting a second helping. 
. Do not keep your hands in your lap during the meal; however, do not rest your elbows on the table either. 
. It is acceptable to leave a small amount of food on your plate. 
. Pick up cheese with your knife rather than your fingers. 
. If you do not want more wine, leave your wineglass nearly full.

Business Etiquette and Protocol in Italy

Relationships & Communication

Italians prefer to do business with people they know and trust.
. A third party introduction will go a long way in providing an initial platform from which to work. 
. Italians much prefer face-to-face contact, so it is important to spend time in Italy developing the relationship. 
. Your business colleagues will be eager to know something about you as a person before conducting business with you. 
. Demeanour is important as Italians judge people on appearances and the first impression you make will be a lasting one. 
. Italians are intuitive. Therefore, make an effort to ensure that your Italians colleagues like and trust you. 
. Networking can be an almost full-time occupation in Italy. Personal contacts allow people to get ahead. 
. Take the time to ask questions about your business colleagues family and personal interests, as this helps build the relationship
. Italians are extremely expressive communicators. They tend to be wordy, eloquent, emotional, and demonstrative, often using facial and hand gestures to prove their point.

Business Meeting Etiquette

. Appointments are mandatory and should be made in writing (in Italian) 2 to 3 weeks in advance.
. Reconfirm the meeting by telephone or fax (again in Italian). 
. Many companies are closed in August, and if they are open many Italians take vacations at this time, so it is best not to try to schedule meetings then.
. In the north, punctuality is viewed as a virtue and your business associates will most likely be on time. 
. The goal of the initial meeting is to develop a sense of respect and trust with your Italian business colleagues. 
. Have all your printed material available in both English and Italian. 
. Hire an interpreter if you are not fluent in Italian. 
. It is common to be interrupted while speaking or for several people to speak at once. 
. People often raise their voice to be heard over other speakers, not because they are angry. 
. Although written agendas are frequently provided, they may not be followed. They serve as a jumping off point for further discussions. 
. Decisions are not reached in meetings. Meetings are meant for a free flow of ideas and to let everyone have their say.

Business Negotiation

. In the north, people are direct, see time as money, and get down to business after only a brief period of social talk. 
. In the south, people take a more leisurely approach to life and want to get to know the people with whom they do business. 
. Allow your Italian business colleagues to set the pace for your negotiations. Follow their lead as to when it is appropriate to move from social to business discussions. 
. Italians prefer to do business with high-ranking people. 
. Hierarchy is the cornerstone of Italian business. Italians respect power and age. 
. Negotiations are often protracted. 
. Never use high-pressure sales tactics. 
. Always adhere to your verbal agreements. Failing to follow through on a commitment will destroy a business relationship. 
. Heated debates and arguments often erupt in meetings. This is simply a function of the free-flow of ideas. 
. Haggling over price and delivery date is common. 
. Decisions are often based more on how you are viewed by the other party than on concrete business objectives.

Dress Etiquette

. Dressing well is a priority in Italy. 
. Men should wear dark coloured, conservative business suits. 
. Women should wear either business suits or conservative dresses. 
. Elegant accessories are equally important for men and women.

Business Cards

. Business cards are exchanged after the formal introduction. 
. To demonstrate proper respect for the other person, look closely at their business card before putting it in your card holder. 
. It is a good idea to have one side of your business card translated into Italian. 
. If you have a graduate degree, include it on your business card. 
. Make sure your title is on your card. Italians like knowing how you fit within your organization.

Russia :: Business etiquette

Russian Society & Culture

The Russian Family

. The Russian family is dependent upon all its members. 
. Most families live in small apartments, often with 2 or 3 generations sharing little space.
. Most families are small, often with only one child because most women must also work outside of the house in addition to bearing sole responsibility for household and childrearing chores.

Russian Pride

. Russians are proud of their country.
. Patriotic songs and poems extol the virtues of their homeland.
. They accept that their lives are difficult and pride themselves on being able to flourish in conditions that others could not. 
. They take great pride in their cultural heritage and expect the rest of the world to admire it.

Communal Mentality

. For generations until the 1930's, Russian life centred on the agricultural village commune, where the land was held in common and decision-making was the province of an assembly of the heads of households.
. This affinity for the group and the collective spirit remains today. It is seen in everyday life, for example most Russians will join a table of strangers rather than eat alone in a restaurant.
. Everybody's business is also everyone else's, so strangers will stop and tell someone that they are breaking the rules.

Etiquette and Customs in Russia

Meeting Etiquette

The typical greeting is a firm, almost bone-crushing handshake while maintaining direct eye contact and giving the appropriate greeting for  the time of day. 
. When men shake hands with women, the handshake is less firm.
. When female friends meet, they kiss on the cheek three times, starting with the left and then alternating. 
. When close male friends meet, they may pat each other on the back and hug.

Naming Conventions

Russian names are comprised of:
. First name, which is the person's given name. 
. Middle name, which is a patronymic or a version of the father's first name formed by adding '- vich' or '-ovich' for a male and '-avna' or '- ovna' for a female. The son of Ivan would have a patronymic of Ivanovich while the daughter's patronymic would be Ivanovna. 
. Last name, which is the family or surname.

In formal situations, people use all three names. Friends and close acquaintances may refer to each other by their first name and patronymic. Close friends and family members call each other by their first name only.

Gift Giving Etiquette

Gift giving using takes place between family and close friends on birthdays, New Year, and Orthodox Christmas. 
. If you are invited to a Russian home for a meal, bring a small gift.
. Male guests are expected to bring flowers. 
. Do not give yellow flowers. 
. Do not give a baby gift until after the baby is born. It is bad luck to do so sooner.
. Russians often protest when they are offered a gift. Reply that it is a little something and offer the gift again and it will generally be accepted.

Dining Etiquette
  
If you are invited to a Russian's house:
. Arrive on time or no more than 15 minutes later than invited.
. Remove your outdoor shoes. You may be given slippers to wear. 
. Dress in clothes you might wear to the office. Dressing well shows respect for your hosts.
. Expect to be treated with honour and respect. 
. Offer to help the hostess with the preparation or clearing up after a meal is served. This may be turned down out of politeness. Asking 'are you sure?' allows the hostess to accept your offer.

Table manners are generally casual. 

. Table manners are Continental -- the fork is held in the left hand and the knife in the right while eating.
. The oldest or most honoured guest is served first.
. Do not begin eating until the host invites you to start.
. Do not rest your elbows on the table, although your hands should be visible at all times. 
. You will often be urged to take second helpings.
. It is polite to use bread to soak up gravy or sauce.
. Men pour drinks for women seated next to them.
. Leaving a small amount of food on your plate indicates that your hosts have provided ample hospitality.
. Do not get up until you are invited to leave the table. At formal dinners, the guest of honor is the first to get up from the table.
 

Russian Business Etiquette and Protocol

Relationships & Communication

. Russians are transactional and do not need to establish long-standing personal relationships before they do business with people. 
. It is still a good idea to develop a network of people who you know and trust. The Russian word "svyasi" means connections and refers to having friends in high places, which is often required to cut through red tape. 
. Patience is essential. 
. It is best to err on the side of formality when you first make contact.
. Sincerity is crucial as it is required to build trust, and trust is needed to build a relationship.
. Most Russians do not trust people who are 'all business'. 
. An indication that you have successfully developed a personal relationship is being asked for a favour by that person.

Business Meeting Etiquette

. Appointments are necessary and should be made as far in advance as possible.
. It often takes roughly 6 weeks to arrange a meeting with a government official. 
. Confirm the meeting when you arrive in the country and again a day or two in advance. 
. The first week of May has several public holidays so it is best avoided. 
. You should arrive punctually for meetings. 
. Typical Russian schedules are constantly changing and everything takes longer than expected, so be prepared to be kept waiting. 
. Meetings can be cancelled on short notice. 
. The first meeting is often a vehicle to determine if you and the company you represent are credible and worthy of consideration for future business dealings. 
. Use the time effectively to demonstrate what differentiates your company from the competition. 
. Expect a long period of socializing and getting-to-know-you conversation before business is discussed. 
. Have all printed material available in both English and Russian. 
. Russians expect long and detailed presentations that include a history of the subject and a review of existing precedents. 
. Meetings are frequently interrupted. It is common for several side conversations that have nothing to do with the topic of the meeting to be carried on during the meeting. 
. At the end of the meeting, expect to sign a 'protokol', which is a summary of what was discussed.

Business Negotiating

. Meetings and negotiations are slow. Russians do not like being rushed. 
. It is a good idea to include technical experts on your negotiating team. 
. Hierarchy is important to Russians. They respect age, rank and position. The most senior person reaches decisions. 
. Russian executives prefer to meet with people of similar rank and position. 
. Russians see negotiations as win-lose. They do not believe in win-win scenarios. 
. Have written materials available in both English and Russian. 
. Russians view compromise as weakness. They will continue negotiating until you offer concessions. 
. Russians may lose their temper, walk out of the meeting, or threaten to terminate the relationship in an attempt to coerce you to change your position. 
. Russians often use time as a tactic, especially if they know that you have a deadline. Be cautious about letting your business colleagues know that you are under time pressure or they will delay even more. 
. Nothing is final until the contract is signed. Even then, Russians will modify a contract to suit their purposes. 
. Do not use high-pressure sales tactics as they will work against you.

Dress Etiquette

. Business dress is formal and conservative. 
. Men should wear business suits. 
. Women should wear subdued coloured business suits with skirts that cover the knees. 
. Shoes should be highly polished. 

 Business Cards

. Business cards are exchanged after the initial introductions without formal ritual. 
. Have one side of your business card translated into Russian using Cyrillic text. 
. Include advanced university degrees on your business card. 
. Hand your business card so the Russian side is readable to the recipient. 
. If someone does not have a business card, note their pertinent information.

Portugal :: Business Etiquette

Portuguese Society & Culture

The Family

. The family is the foundation of the social structure and forms the basis of stability. 
. The extended family is quite close. 
. The individual derives a social network and assistance from the family. 
. Loyalty to the family comes before other social relationships, even business.
. Nepotism is considered a good thing, since it implies that employing people one knows and trusts is of primary importance. 

Formality

. Portuguese are traditional and conservative.
. They are a people who retain a sense of formality when dealing with each other, which is displayed in the form of extreme politeness.

Appearances Matter

. In Portuguese society appearance is very important, especially in the cities. 
. People are fashion conscious and believe that clothes indicate social standing and success. 
. They take great pride in wearing good fabrics and clothes of the best standard they can afford.

Hierarchy

. Portugal is a culture that respects hierarchy. 
. Society and business are highly stratified and vertically structured. 
. Both the Catholic Church and the family structure emphasize hierarchical relationships. 
. People respect authority and look to those above them for guidance and decision-making. 
. Rank is important, and those senior to you in rank must always be treated with respect.  
. This need to know who is in charge leads to an authoritarian approach to decision- making and problem solving. 
. In business, power and authority generally reside with one person who makes decisions with little concern about consensus building with their subordinates.

Etiquette and Customs in Portugal

Meeting & Greeting

Initial greetings are reserved, yet polite and gracious. 
. The handshake accompanied by direct eye contact and the appropriate greeting for the time of day.
. Once a personal relationship has developed, greetings become more personal: men may greet each other with a hug and a handshake and women kiss each other twice on the cheek starting with the right.

Titles

. The proper form of address is the honorific title 'senhor' and 'senhora' with the surname. 
. Anyone with a university degree is referred to with the honorific title, plus 'doutour' or 'doutoura' ('doctor') with or without their surname. 
. Wait until invited before moving to a first-name basis. 
. Use the formal rather than the informal case until your Portuguese friend suggests otherwise.

Gift Giving Etiquette

. If you are invited to a Portuguese home for dinner, bring flowers, good quality chocolates or candy to the hostess. 
. Do not bring wine unless you know which wines your hosts prefer. 
. Do not give 13 flowers. The number is considered unlucky. 
. Do not give lilies or chrysanthemums since they are used at funerals. 
. Do not give red flowers since red is the symbol of the revolution. 
. Gifts are usually opened when received.

Dining Etiquette

. If invited to a dinner arrive no more than 15 minutes after the stipulated time.
. You may arrive between 30 minutes and one hour later than the stipulated time when invited to a party or other large social gathering. 
. Dress conservatively. There is little difference between business and social attire. 
. Do not discuss business in social situations. 
. If you did not bring a gift to the hostess, send flowers the next day. 
. Table manners are formal. 
. Remain standing until invited to sit down. You may be shown to a particular seat. 
. Table manners are Continental -- the fork is held in the left hand and the knife in the right while eating. 
. Do not begin eating until the hostess says "bom appetito".  
. Do not rest your elbows on the table, although your hands should be visible at all times.  
. Most food is eaten with utensils, including fruit and cheese. 
. Keep your napkin to the left of your plate while eating. Do not place the napkin in your lap. When you have finished eating, move your napkin to the right of your plate. 
. If you have not finished eating, cross your knife and fork on your plate with the fork over the knife. 
. Leave some food on your plate when you have finished eating. 
. Indicate you have finished eating by laying your knife and fork parallel on your plate, tines facing up, with the handles facing to the right.

Business Etiquette and Protocol

Building Relationships & Communication

. The Portuguese prefer to do business with those they feel comfortable with, which means those that they know they can trust. 
. Therefore, it is advisable to have a mutual contact provide the initial introduction. 
. Expect to invest a great deal of time developing the relationship. 
. The Portuguese prefer face-to-face meetings rather than written or telephonic communication, which are seen as too impersonal. 
. Relationships are built with people, not companies. 
. If you change representatives or people on a negotiating team once negotiations have started, the relationship-building process will have to begin again.
. It is important that you treat business colleagues with respect and not do anything to embarrass them. 
. Communication is formal and relies on strict rules of protocol. 
. If your Portuguese business colleagues have questions or want clarification during a presentation, they will wait until you have finished speaking and not interrupt. 
. Although honest, the Portuguese do not volunteer information unless solicited, especially if remaining silent is in their best interest. 
. Although the Portuguese are not emotive speakers and do not use hand gestures, they may be demonstrative when greeting friends. . If you tend to use hand gestures while speaking, you may wish to moderate your behaviour since it may incorrectly be viewed as overtly demonstrative.  
. Portugal is a hierarchical culture that respects age and position. 
. Defer to those in senior positions and maintain a sense of formality in written communication. 
. Do not be concerned if your Portuguese colleagues fail to follow through on promises. 
. They have a more relaxed attitude towards time and do not see deadlines as crucial as people from many other cultures do.
. They do not appreciate direct criticism, even if you consider it to be justified

Business Meeting Etiquette

. Appointments are mandatory and should be made 1 to 2 weeks in advance. 
. Reconfirm the meeting a few days in advance. 
. Initial correspondence should be written in Portuguese. 
. Since most Portuguese take vacation during August, it is not an ideal time to try to schedule meetings. It is also best not to plan meetings during the week between Christmas and New Year.
. You should arrive on time for meetings. 
. In many circles, 5 minutes late is considered on time. 
. Punctuality displays respect for the person you are meeting. If you are kept waiting, it is important that you not appear irritated.
. People from the north are generally more punctual than those in the south. 
. A fair amount of getting-to-know-you conversation may take place before the business conversation begins. 
. Agendas serve as starting points for discussions; they do not serve as schedules. 
. Presentations should be well thought-out, thorough, and backed up with charts and figures. 
. Decisions are not reached at meetings. 
. Maintain eye contact when speaking. 
. Meetings may be interrupted. 
. Do not remove your jacket unless your business associates do so.