Business Manners

Gap-fill exercise

  

Fill in all the gaps, then press "Check" to check your answers.

Meeting Manners

Read the information about the attitudes of different European nationalities to meetings.

Netherlands
Dutch Business people are generally used to doing business in a number of languages and are usually fluent English speakers. Their approach to business tends to be relaxed.

Italy
Italians are usually not very concerned about formality and punctuality at meetings. If you know a person well, it is polite to ask about his / her family before starting business.

Germany
Germans expect a great degree of formality in meetings. You should only use first names when invited to do so, and women in business are always referred to as ‘Frau,’ whether married or single.

France
French business people prefer to conduct meetings seriously—generally it’s not a good idea to make jokes at a meeting. It is usual to shake hands when meeting and parting, even if you know each other well.

UK
Although small talk is acceptable at the beginning of a meeting, British business people often avoid asking personal questions such as “Are you single?”
business people often do not like talking about personal details.
generally do not worry if a visitor is late.
business people have an informal business style.
business people sometimes talk about their families before getting down to business.
prefer a formal approach to meetings.
believe that humor is not appropriate in a business meeting.
business people usually shake hands with an acquaintance at the end of a meeting.
business people ca usually do business in more than one foreign language.