Understanding Finnish business etiquette is crucial for success when engaging with Finnish markets, emphasizing professionalism and respect for local customs. Key practices include firm handshakes, formal titles, punctuality, and the importance of straightforward communication. Building relationships may also involve social interactions like sauna invitations, reflecting a blend of personal and professional engagement.

1. Foreign Staffing, Inc.

2.  Practicing proper Finnish business
etiquette will aid business people
hoping to expand into Finnish markets.
 Be familiar with the proper etiquette
to ensure your success and be
confident when you participate in
modern Finnish business transactions.
 When you can share in the proper
Finnish business procedures you will
gain new partners and clients in this
northern European country and
create success for your business.
 Impress your Finnish colleagues with your awareness of Finnish values
and your displays of proper Finnish etiquette, which will in turn enhance
your network in Finnish markets.

3.  Shake hands with everyone
separately, even children.
 Your handshake, as your first chance
to indicate your professionalism and
dedication to the partnership,
should be brief and always firm.
 Repeat your own name as you
shake hands, using your title, first
and last names. Do not address your
Finnish colleague by first name
unless told otherwise, and always
use formal titles. Do not expect small
talk, Finnish negotiators like to get to
business.

4.  Finns value straight communication.
They see it as a way to express
genuineness and sincerity.
 Using agendas and concrete plans
is beneficial.
 Send your documents and
schedules to the Finnish company
before you arrive for the meeting.

5.  Avoid interrupting, and always wait
until the speaker is finished before
responding.
 This also applies to presentations: be
sure to hold any questions until the
end of a presentation.

6.  Go that extra mile and impress
your Finnish colleagues by getting
a Finnish translation of all pertinent
documents, including your
business card.

7.  When you are traveling it is vital
that you respect scheduling. If you
find yourself running late, make sure
you immediately contact the
Finnish company and your
colleagues to notify them of the
delay.
 When you are late to a meeting
you may be considered unreliable
and therefore anything you say
may be dismissed as untrustworthy.

8.  Do not schedule meetings from July
through August. Many Finns
vacation during these months.
 Finns too prioritize family and
personal time, so avoid requesting
work to be done on the weekends.
And do know that business hours
change seasonally in Finland.
 During winter months business hours
are from 8:00 - 5:15, while in the
summer, hours are 8:00 - 4:15.

9.  Should a Finnish colleague invite
you to the sauna, do not to refuse.
 Business meetings are sometimes
continued in the sauna on casual
terms. Invitations to the sauna are a
sign of kindness, a wonderful way
for you to get to know your Finnish
colleagues, and more importantly,
continue building a strong
relationship.

10.  And as close as the countries are in this
northern European area, Finns and
Swedes are very different and should not
be considered one in the same.
 These countries uphold a bitter rivalry so it
is vital that you remember Finland is a
Nordic country, and Sweden is a
Scandinavian country.

11.  Always dress modestly as Finns are
known to consider overdressing as
showy and even arrogant.
 Finns do not appreciate any signs
of dominance or overt control.