Conducting Business in France - CareerAlley

Conducting Business in France - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. If your business takes you to France, count yourself lucky to be among a people who love good food, good wine and all things of beauty. But while the culture is dotted withjoie de vivre, its all business in the boardroom. So when youre dealing withle Franais, take care to observe cultural nuances that may increase your likelihood of success in your business venture. Saying Bonjour The term informal dress usually still means a jacket and tie for men; a business-casual but stylish ensemble for women Punctuality is important, but being up to 15 minutes late is usually allowable; business hours generally run from 9 a.m. to around 7 p.m While the handshake usually prevails, the cheek kiss is a common practice (if your colleague is female, let her initiate it) Expect some close-talking Make use of Monsieur and Madame coupled with the last name unless youre invited to use a first name Learn Frenchphrases, and if the conversation goes over your head, theyll likely switch to English Maintain moderate eye contact Your business card Keep it single-sided You can have it printed in English, as most French professionals read English Never include it if you offer your hosts a gift Doing lunch Expect a business lunch to last about two hours Refrain from eating until your hose says, Bon apptit The host will always pick up the check; make sure you return the gesture Add salt or sauces to your plate sparingly, as it implies the meal is bland Getting down to business Its considered impolite to outright inquire about someones political leanings Expect digressions and shifts in conversation French business is conducted according to logic, and you may learn that your French associates are somewhat reluctant to take risks or diverge from their cultural norms Be direct, but courteous at all times, avoiding overtly friendly gestures or exaggerations Understand that French executives value long-term business relationships Dont be surprised if personal ideologies come into play during the discussion; do prior research if possible This post was written by Purna Virji, an award winning former journalist. Purna is a keen traveler and a voracious reader. Her new years resolution has been to cook new recipes and to learn to speak French. This is a Guest post. If you would like to submit a guest post to CareerAlley, please follow these guest post guidelines. Good luck in your search. Visit me on Facebook