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Real insights from 5+ years of operations
Business Cultural Etiquette Guides
Navigate business culture like a local. Real dos, don'ts, and stories from our experience building teams across 6 very different cultures.
Quick Cultural Comparison
| Dimension | 🇺🇸 | 🇮🇳 | 🇵🇠| 🇩🇴 | ðŸ‡ðŸ‡³ | 🇨🇴 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Communication Style | Direct | Indirect | Very Indirect | Expressive | Formal | Polite |
| Hierarchy | Low | High | Medium | Medium | High | Medium |
| Time Orientation | Strict | Flexible | Flexible | Very Flexible | Flexible | Flexible |
| Relationship vs Task | Task | Relationship | Relationship | Relationship | Balanced | Relationship |
🇮🇳
India Business Culture
Hierarchical, relationship-focused, and family-oriented. Respect for age and authority is paramount. Building trust takes time but creates lasting loyalty.
Greetings & First Impressions
- Namaste with palms together (traditional)
- Handshake for men (wait for women to extend first)
- Use titles: Sir/Ma'am, Mr./Ms. + surname
- Inquire about family shows care
Meetings & Discussions
- May start 5-10 minutes late (IST = Indian Stretchable Time)
- Begin with relationship building
- Seniors speak first and most
- Decisions often made outside formal meetings
Communication Style
- Indirect "no" - watch for hesitation
- "We'll do our best" may mean unlikely
- Written follow-up important
- Respectful disagreement only in private
Dress Code
- Conservative and formal
- Men: Formal shirts, trousers
- Women: Sarees, salwar kameez, or western formal
- Fridays may be traditional dress day
Quick Reference Card
Universal Truth #1
Food and drink sharing builds relationships everywhere
Universal Truth #2
Showing genuine interest in culture opens all doors
Universal Truth #3
Patience and respect overcome any cultural gap
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