The document outlines essential etiquette for foreigners engaging in business in Russia, emphasizing the importance of confidence, patience, and cultural awareness. Key practices include a firm handshake, maintaining eye contact, timely attendance, and the proper use of names, while also advising against high-pressure tactics and the display of shoe soles. Additionally, it highlights the necessity of providing documents and business cards in Russian to demonstrate respect and eagerness for collaboration.

1. Foreign Staffing, Inc.

2.  A key component is being
confident in your actions when
participating in modern Russian
business transactions. Impress your
Russian colleagues by becoming
aware of what they value and
enhance your network to the
Russian market through your
culturally applicable gestures.
 Proper Russian business
etiquette is essential to gain new
partners and clients in Russia’s
business community.
 When foreigners travel to Russia
to gain new partners and clients
in this exotic eastern European
country, it is vital to demonstrate
the appropriate Russian business
etiquette.

3.  Shake hands firmly and maintain eye
contact when doing so.
 Russians will greet a stranger with a hand
shake and will state their first name. Just
follow their lead.
 Unless invited to do so, never use first
names, as it is important to respect the
authority and formality.

4.  Avoid high-pressure talk.
 Russians value patience and
appreciate time to debate and
negotiate, consider and digest all of
the elements in the discussions.
 Trying to force a decision through
high-pressure talk will only make you
appear irritated, rude and incapable
of professional business interactions.

5.  Be sure to include a Russian
translation on your business cards.
 Although most Russians speak English
(as English is usually taught beginning
in the third grade), be sure to have a
Russian translation of your business
card on its flipside, as this indicates
your eagerness for doing business
with your Russian colleagues.
 Also, any pertinent documents that
will be distributed should be
translated first.
 This will show how much you value
your Russian colleagues.

6.  Be on time to all meetings. While it's
acceptable for your Russian
colleagues to be late to business
meetings, as a foreigner, you are
expected to arrive on time (if not
early).
 Avoid expecting your late Russian
colleagues to apologize for their
tardiness, as their behavior is
considered to be a test of your
patience.

7.  Expect your Russian colleagues to
show great emotions, including
anger, even to the point of walking
out of a meeting and/or threatening
to end the relationship with you in an
effort to force you into more of a
compromise during negotiations.

8.  Avoid showing the soles of your shoes (or
stepping on any seats), as this is
considered highly disrespectful.
 Wear dark colored, conservative
business suits to meetings.
 Women should always wear longer,
knee-length skirts, rather than pants-suits.