The document provides a comprehensive guide to effective business communication across various cultures, highlighting customs, dos and don'ts for countries such as Egypt, India, Kenya, Mongolia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Syria, and the USA. Key points include the significance of punctuality, the importance of formal attire, maintaining respectful communication, and understanding local customs to build rapport. Practicing cultural sensitivity and patience in negotiations is emphasized throughout, ensuring successful business interactions.

1. HULT FTMBA 2011
FOR EFFECTIVE BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
Copyright material of Hult FTMBA 2011 prepared by Hult Students

2. EGYPT
1. Confirm appointments in advance
2. Never come late but expect your host to be late
3. Learn a few words of Egyptian Arabic
4. Prepare to have a general chit-chat before the meeting starts
5. Dress formally if you want to make a good impression… but it is not only
about looking good
6. Make eye contact - it is a sign of honesty and sincerity.
7. Expect frequent walk-in interruptions.
8. Do not try to bring the topic back to the original discussion until the new
person leaves
9. Phone calls are not acceptable
10. Keep a respectful, professional distance when dealing with Egyptian women
11. Do not try to ask personal questions when dealing with Egyptian women
12. Eye contact is good when meeting with women avoid excess
13. Egyptians are tough negotiators
14. Do NOT use high-pressure tactics
15. Business moves at a relaxed pace
16. Egyptians do not like confrontation
17. Egyptians avoid saying ´no´ (If they do not respond, it usually is a negative
sign)
18. Egyptians are expressive and can get quite excited during negotiations. Do
not pick this up as aggression!
19. Expect to be served even if you are not hungry
20. Never leave your plate totally clean
21. Dress formally for business dinner
22. Let the host lead social activities

3. INDIA
Do:
 Be patient with negotiations, government, meetings, dinners, etc
 Be flexible with scheduling meetings and confirm again before meeting
 Be prompt for meetings but expect host to be late
 Wear dark, conservative suits/dresses
 Greet most senior individuals first by their title and exchange cards with right
hand upon meeting
 Shake hands with the same sex; If opposite sex, wait for the signal
 Use written contracts, not verbal
 Use eye contact as it is seen as confident
Avoid:
• Becoming impatient and aggressive during interaction
• Pointing fingers directly when speaking
• Discussing sex or religion
• Declining hospitality such as food or drink
• Alcohol and certain foods based on religious diet restrictions
• Pointing the soles of feet toward individuals

4. GENERAL DOS - KENYA
Firm Handshake
First meeting in your office
• Check legitimacy of your business
Analyze your verbal and non-verbal communication (body language, tone and words)
Good Negotiators – never settle for a price for the first time, continue to bargain till the end
Compared to the surrounding area, Kenyans are very competitive (aggressive) in business
Be ready for Nepotism (favoritism)
AND DONTS
Talk politics – especially during first meeting and election time
Taking a stance in the first meeting – be more neutral
Criticism about the country’s lifestyle
Showing off as a foreigner
Asking which Kenyan root the individual stems from
Rushing personal and business relationships

5. MONGOLIA
• Religion- Buddhism Shamanism
• Population- 2,777 200, Mongol (Mostly Khalkha)- 94.4 %Turk, Chinese and Russian -5.6%
• Capitalist economic policy
• Ulaanbaatar is a capital city
• Men & Women should wear clothes that are subtle with neutral Colors
– Men: Conservative Suits, Shirts & Ties
– Women: Casual Dress - avoid wearing high heels & short sleeved blouse as well as avoid
displaying too much skin as it is considered offensive
• Inquire what language meetings are likely to be held and find an interpreter if none is being
offered by the company
• Handshake is generally acceptable when greeting both men and women
• Sir- Noyon, Madam- Hatagtai, How are you- Sain bainuu, Fine- Sain
• Mongolians are punctual and Greet everyone in the room starting from the eldest to the
youngest – usually seated in clockwise direction
• Use titles and surnames if known to you
• Use both hands when accepting or handing out, gifts and business cards- Remember not
to write anything on the business cards
• Exercise patience during the meetings as the Mongolians take their time and do not mind
to answer their mobile phone calls during the business meeting
• It is deemed impolite not to accept anything offered, including tea, spirits, food etc
• Head is considered sacred, so placing a hand next to someone’s head should be avoided

6. Do:
√ Be formal and dress smartly.
√ Always find out which ethnic group your business counterpart
belongs to.
√ Schedule meetings well in advance and confirm that a day before
√ Be punctual
√ Inquire about people’s health and wellbeing is essential
√ Be aware of fraud.
Don’t:
× Hold eye contact while talking to somebody for a long time
× Confront your Nigerian co-workers in public when you have issue
with them.
× Be irritated when someone is insisting on addressing with all their
titles
× Receive anything by left hand. It is impolite.
× Be involved in a political discussion
× Do large scale cash transactions
× Give feedback to your superiors

7. SAUDI ARABIA
 DO be sensitive to the religious holidays and prayer times.
 DO avoid uncomfortable situations; Saudis wish to save Face.
 DO abide by local standards of modesty and dress appropriately; Scarf and
abaya is mandatory for women, and business suits for men.
 DO be chivalrous with women; but maintain an appropriate physical distance.
 Do keep your word; For Saudis, their word is bond over the written contract.
 Do maintain strong eye contact, and engage in small talk; emphasis is placed
on tone and physical cues.
 DON’T ask about a man’s family with specific references.
 DON’T rush the business negotiations, nor expect punctuality.
 DON’T assume the most vocal speaker is the decisionmaker.
 DON’T criticize: Islam, Saudi Arabia culture, and Conservatism principals.
 DON’T expect a woman under age 25 to obtain a visitors’ visa.

8. SOUTH AFRICA
Do’s:
 Set deadlines in advance
 Be punctual
 Maintain eye contact
 Dress formally/professionally
 Develop rapport by spending time getting to know people
 Have a joke or sports comment ready
 Do bring your host a small gift (ex. wine or flowers)
Don’ts:
 Do not interrupt
 Do not expect others to always be punctual
 Do not point your index finger at someone
 Do not call a lady ‘miss’
 Do not have periods of silence while doing business or giving a
presentation

9. SPAIN
SOCIAL
 Be entertaining and humorous during business meetings, but be modest when
describing your achievements and accomplishments
 Be particularly careful of dress code, be stylish yet conservative
 Spaniards live a laid back life style and like to enjoy good things in life, Smoking is
widely accepted and meals are often eaten later than usual. Dining is an important
part of the social and business fabric and the Spanish are proud of their food and
wine.
BUSINESS
 Hierarchy and rank are important
 Spaniards are concerned that they look good in the eyes of others.
 Know the importance of relationships, as most relationships tend to be for long term
 Spaniards do not like to lose face, and will not express what they think, avoid
confrontation if at all possible and be adept at discerning body language
 Be patient about time, Spaniards are not very particular about punctuality
 Be patient in negotiations , interruptions are an indication that what you were saying
was of great interest

10. SYRIA
DOs DON’Ts
•Show appreciation for hospitality & gifts •Reject expressions of hospitality &
gifts
•Build rapport through personal questions
•Conduct a tight meeting schedule
•Be patient and tolerant towards Syrian
timing •Expect effective long term planning
•Respect seniority/or titles and show
•Expect “Junior” partner in foreign
politeness
company to meet “Senior” Syrian
partner
•Suggest and imply ideas or concerns
when it comes to work •Be direct with your emotions
•Show a public display of anger or
•Address “the father” when asking for unacceptance
decision

11. USA
Do’s: Don’ts:
 Be punctual • Do not interrupt
 Set deadlines • Do not spend time building relationships
 Be organized • Do not waste time; time is money
 Have detailed written contract • Do not take decision instead of the senior
 Follow up and send thank you notes executive
 Be friendly and informal • Do not remain silent
 Address with Title • Do not expect all companies to be the same
 Say Please & Thank you • No physical contact such as hugging, while
greeting someone for the first time
 Make the other person comfortable
• Do not be offended/surprised if your American
 Give tips to waiters
colleagues do not accept a gift
 Dress formally for the business meetings
• Do not beat around the bush
 Maintain a distance of 2-3 feet, while talking to
• Do not miss the deadlines
someone (personal space)
 Maintain eye contact during conversation
 Fix appointments before meeting
 Speak up