Business & protocol

42 cards in this category — of which 36 complete, 6 under development.

• Email greetings (France)In France, professional email closures (Cordialement, Bien à vous, Sincères salutations) codify hierarchical respect and relational depth.
  CompleteCuriosity
• Academic qualifications in business (Germany)In Germany, omitting an academic title in a professional context is a direct insult.
  CompleteCuriosity
• Tutoiement (du) vs vouvoiement (Sie) in business (Germany)The use of "du" without consent in Germany is a serious breach of protocol.
  CompleteCuriosity
• Negotiation and bargaining (Middle East)In the Middle East, haggling in the souk is an expected practice; refusing to negotiate seems ignorant.
  CompleteCuriosity
• Verbal vs. written contracts (United States)In the US, the low-trust culture requires all agreements to be documented in writing.
  CompleteCuriosity
• Decision by consensus (Japan)In Japan, nemawashi and ringi are mandatory consensus processes.
  CompleteCuriosity
• Guanxi in business (China)Guanxi is a system of reciprocal relationships; to ignore this network is to fail.
  CompleteCuriosity
• Wasta (intermediation) in the Middle EastWasta is a resource access system; ignoring it makes business impossible.
  CompleteCuriosity
• Jeitinho (creative bypass) in BrazilJeitinho is not dishonesty but a valued skill in Brazil.
  CompleteCuriosity
• Open door policy (United States)The open-door policy is a symbol of managerial accessibility in the US.
  CompleteCuriosity
• Small talk: United States vs. GermanyMassive small talk in the US facilitates relationships; its absence in Germany is normal.
  CompleteCuriosity
• Age respect in business (Korea)In Korea, respect for age is fundamental; ignoring seniority is offensive.
  CompleteCuriosity
• Recevoir une carte de visite à deux hands (meishi)Au Japon, prendre un meishi d'une hand est un quasi-affront protocolaire.
  CompleteInsult
• Write on the business card you receiveWriting on a map in Asia is tantamount to disfiguring its sender.
  CompleteInsult
• Put the card in the back pocket of your pantsPutting a card in your back pocket in Japan is the equivalent of literally sitting on it.
  CompleteInsult
• Strict to-the-minute punctualityArriving five minutes late in Germany: an accepted professional error.
  CompleteMisunderstanding
• Latin American punctuality (flexible)In Latin America, time is relational, not absolute. A delay invites discussion.
  CompleteMisunderstanding
• Silence at a meeting (Japan)In Japan, silence in a meeting is active thinking (ma 間); in the West it's perceived as a blockage.
  CompleteMisunderstanding
• Interrupting a meeting (Mediterranean)A Mediterranean who doesn't interrupt is seen as disinterested; a German who does interrupt is seen as unlearned.
  CompleteMisunderstanding
• Use first name immediately (Asia)Call a Japanese CEO "Yamada-san" after three meetings; call an American CEO "John" after the first coffee.
  CompleteInsult
• Asking age in business (Korea)A Korean asks "How old are you?" at the very first coffee; a Westerner receives this as an intrusion.
  CompleteInsult
• Indian nod (yes/no confusion)The Indian "wobble" sounds like a Western "no", but means "yes" or "I understand".
  CompleteMisunderstanding
• "Yes" means "I heard" (Japan)A Japanese man says "yes" twenty times during a meeting, then refuses afterwards.
  CompleteInsult
• Soft handshake (Maghreb, Middle East)A firm handshake in Morocco can be perceived as brutality.
  CompleteMisunderstanding
• Documenting/writing with the left hand (Arab cultures)Using the left hand to write a contract in the Middle East is an insult.
  CompleteInsult
• Gift ceremony (Japan)In Japan, commercial gifts are ritualized. Poor presentation cancels out the gesture.
  CompleteMisunderstanding
• Refusing a gift (China)In China, refusing a gift at first sight is polite. Accepting it right away seems greedy.
  CompleteMisunderstanding
• Commercial gifts (EU anti-bribery law)A business gift in France can become proof of legal corruption.
  CompleteOffense
• Alcohol at business meals (Japan)Refusing to drink with Japanese colleagues after the office insults the relationship of trust.
  CompleteMisunderstanding
• Refuse alcohol (Golf, Muslim areas)Pressuring a Muslim colleague to drink at a business dinner in the UAE is unacceptable.
  CompleteInsult
• Modesty in dress (Golf, Middle East)A woman in a skirt on her knees in the UAE causes lasting professional discomfort.
  CompleteInsult
• Gender handshake (Religious Orthodoxy)An Orthodox bishop does not shake hands with a woman. Ignoring him creates a diplomatic incident.
  CompleteMisunderstanding
• Serrer la hand à une femme musulmane pratiquanteWait for the colleague's signal before extending your hand. If she places her hand over her heart or crosses her arms, respond with the same greeting - it's a mark of professional respect.
  CompleteInsult
• Negotiating during RamadanNo business lunches or demanding meetings at midday local time. Suggest meetings before dawn or after sunset (iftar). Hydration is forbidden to fasting people.
  CompleteMisunderstanding
• Indirect negative feedback in Japanin Japan, "It's difficult" means "no". Talking about criticism in public = fatal humiliation. Every sentence contains unspoken layers; the absent speaks as loudly as the present.
  CompleteInsult
• Dutch front-end feedback"It's bad" in the Netherlands = neutral technical criticism. Everywhere else = personal attack. The same word, two ethical universes.
  CompleteMisunderstanding
• Firm handshake (United States)A limp handshake in the U.S. immediately classifies you as unreliable.
  Under developmentCuriosity
• Laisser passer les femmes d'abordGalanterie appréciée ou paternaliste selon le contexte scandinave vs latin.
  Under developmentMisunderstanding
• Complimenter l'apparence d'une collègueAux US, risque harcèlement ; en Italie, banalité relationnelle.
  Under developmentInsult
• Photographier des collègues sans consentementRGPD : image = donnée personnelle — selfie d'équipe soumis au consentement.
  Under developmentInsult
• Congratulations vs private update on LinkedInLike ostentatoire US vs retenue scandinave — mêmes outils, cultures d'usage opposées.
  Under developmentCuriosity
• Emailer après 18h en France (droit à la déconnexion)Loi Travail 2017 : déranger le soir est un droit individuel opposable.
  Under developmentMisunderstanding