Business Contexts

 

Business Contexts

First impressions are important to many individuals. One unpleasant experience can make a person think less about you. One enjoyable experience can make someone think highly of you. When greeting people in a different region, it is important to consider their culture and customs. As a world traveler, I know how important it is to respect and adapt to other cultures. It is also important to properly greet people from diverse cultures. It is likely you will travel in your lifetime, so it is necessary to be aware of how to initially interact with people. When traveling you must examine the appropriate way to greet, communicate, and overcome challenges within different regions.

               In England, politeness and properness are valued. According to an article from We Are Developers, business greetings can include a handshake with a smile. In the business setting, hugging, or kissing should be avoided. Also, use surnames unless it is insisted you call them by their first name. It should also be noted that you should not brag – being humble is important in British culture.

When conversating in business settings, there are some topics to avoid. Avoid topics like politics, Brexit, environmentalism, and other sensitive issues. Acceptable topics include discussing the weather, holidays, and general culture. These topics are safe, and you can derive interesting information and learn more about the person you are talking to without getting too personal. Humor is also prominent in British culture. Sarcasm, irony, and humor in general are welcomed across the UK, including the business setting. This can help to reduce tension and avoid coming off as rude or arrogant between people. However, you should be careful when making jokes about another person, it might be offensive.

Appearance is also something to be aware of. In an article from Financial times, they suggested that men wear a suit and tie in a business place. Women may wear a dress followed by nice accessories such as earrings. Brits value neatness and cleanliness so being well put together is essential for business etiquette. Until you are aware of the dress code, you should try to look the best you can (dress or a suit). After the dress code is established, that is when you can look in the mirror and change your appearance accordingly. Most tend to go for a business casual look. Dark or neutral colors are worn most often. The standard is smart casual which is a mix between business casual and casual everyday appearance.

While gift giving can be found in American culture, it is not common in British culture. It is generally not acceptable for gifts to be exchanged in a business setting unless it is a holiday or an important milestone. Based on an article from Talkpal, if you are to purchase a gift for someone, try to base it off the recipient’s likings. However, if you are not sure, things such as quality chocolates, wine, or a book are acceptable gift ideas. When giving the gift, you should not expect anything in return and do it at an appropriate time such as the end of a meeting.

Americans can face challenges when trying to find a job internationally in England. Americans can come off as loud or over expressive to Britons. It should stay in their mind to lower their voice and to have a pleasant expression on their face. Americans can also be more straight forward whereas the British can beat around the bush or imply what needs done. As brought up earlier, there are different humors between British and Americans. British are reliant on irony and sarcasm while an American can be more literal and expressive. Lastly, how to refer to people can come as a challenge. In America, most people are on a first name basis. However, in England, they often use mister, miss, or misses when addressing someone. These differences are critical to examine before pursuing a job abroad.

I have been in the United Kingdom for ten days now. It has been an amazing experience. I have noticed that in business places, such as restaurants, humor is used. The form of humor I see most often is sarcasm. When I was sitting in a restaurant looking out the window a waiter came over to the table and said, “This table looks like no fun.” My friend looked at the guy with a funny look and he had to clarify that it was a joke before walking away. This is not often said at a restaurant in America, so my friend was confused on what he meant. In America, servers are very friendly and ready to help. This was a noticeable difference in the UK.

Overall, it is important to watch what you say and appear neat. British humor should not be taken too personally, and you should aim to not offend anyone. It is important to remain polite and not be too loud. Be respectful to everyone and how they must be addressed. British business etiquette is important to understand before pursuing a career as it may be different than what you are used to.

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