Global Business Culture – United States of America
In charge of an important project for his company, Mr. A arrived 5 minutes late to his business meeting with an American buyer. He apologized to his counterpart in a very polite manner and began his presentation right away. His presentation went smoothly and Mr. A was pleased with his performance. However, Mr. A later received a message from the partner saying that the business negotiation had been annulled.
Keep it short and simple for business with Americans!
When having a business meeting with Americans, don’t forget to follow the ‘Keep It Short and Simple’ (KISS) principle. Americans tend to prefer linear, logical thinking based on facts, so remember to avoid going to great lengths to hide weaknesses and overly exaggerate strengths. Additionally, many American officers prioritize punctuality, meaning that they consider it disrespectful when a person is late.
Business in the USA DOs and DON’Ts
DOs
-
Maintain eye contact when in conversation.
If you avoid eye contact, the person you are
speaking with may believe that you are being
rude or not paying attention. -
Familiarize yourself with local sports and stay
up-to-date on the highlights. Americans love
talking about sports as an ice-breaker. -
Address your business counterpart as ‘Mr.,
Mrs., or Miss’. Americans consider it strange to
address someone by their business titles. -
Conduct business negotiations based on
information, facts, and opinions. Time is
money for Americans, and as their mindset
is deal-focused, stay on point and don’t
beat around the bush. -
Learn idiomatic English expressions when doing
business with Americans. American business
language is full of this, many taken from sports
(i.e. touch base, ballpark figure, game plan, home
run) or military (i.e. rally the troops).
DON’Ts
-
Do not mention your job position when
introducing yourself to someone else.
Americans are task-oriented therefore a person’s
position does not matter whereas as much as
his or her professionalism and reliability. -
Do not panic when your business counterpart grabs your
business card with one hand and places it on the table.
Americans don’t necessarily place the same importance on
business cards that some other cultures do. There will be
times when counterparts misplace your business card
or put it in their wallet immediately. -
Age, marital status, and other personal matters
are not appropriate subjects for conversation.
Personal space is sacred to Americans so it is better
to avoid asking personal questions if you are not
friends with each other. -
Don’t search for hidden meaning in what your
counterpart is saying. Normally ‘Yes’, ‘No’, and
‘Maybe’ mean just that; you don’t have to read
between the lines. -
When meeting someone for business, don’t feel
compelled to give gifts. The majority of American
companies restrict the gifts that their employees
can receive. When in doubt, don’t bring a gift at all.
Hanwha Affiliates in the United States of America
Hanwha Group companies in the US include Hanwha Corporation, Hanwha Techwin, Hanwha Engineering & Construction, Hanwha Q CELLS, Hanwha Advanced Materials, Hanwha Life, and Hanwha Hotels & Resorts. These seven companies operate 18 offices across the country.
