Business Etiquette in India
Added on 2023-06-08
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Business Etiquette in India 1
BUSINESS ETIQUETTE AND CULTURAL DIFFERENCES
By Name
Course
Tutor
Institution
Location
Date
BUSINESS ETIQUETTE AND CULTURAL DIFFERENCES
By Name
Course
Tutor
Institution
Location
Date
Business Etiquette in India 2
Mary is seeking to expand her business by setting up operations in India. She is
confident that her array of products will do well in the country. India has one of the world's
fastest growing economy and a mostly youthful population which promises a vast market. If
her expansion move to India is to be successful, Mary needs to understand various aspects of
Indian culture and how they relate to conducting business. The trip to India to meet Mr.
Sharma is a step in the right direction as it can be an excellent learning opportunity. It is
essential to make a good first impression during the meeting. This paper analyzes various
aspects of Indian business etiquette as well as how they may conflict with what Mary is used
to Australia.
The first aspect relates to appearance. As a woman, professional appearance requires
achieving the acceptable level of attire, makeup, jewelry, fingernails, perfumes and scents,
and hairstyle. While these may seem to be too many aspects of appearance to consider, they
are vital elements in the Indian culture regardless of whether one is doing business or not.
Indian women wear clothes such as suits, skirts, trousers, and saris (Martin and Chaney
2012). For a professional setup, it is essential to wear suits that are largely dark colored. The
legs and arms need to be as covered as possible. The makeup is acceptable, but it needs to be
light, simple and appropriate. Jewelry needs to be used conservatively. For instance, an
earring can be small and above the earlobe while a necklace can be a small chain with a
pendant. Bracelets are also acceptable. The jewelry worn needs to be minimal and such that it
does not make noise (Kolanad 2008). A complete professional look often requires accessories
such as a purse. One small dark colored, quality purse is an essential accessory. Perfume
needs to be light to ward of sweat odor while not filling the entire room the wearer walks in.
Nail polish is acceptable as long as the nails are clean and well-trimmed (Martin and Chaney
2012). The best polish can be light and plain rather than nail art. The hair can be styled neatly
and conservatively. The hair can be tied with rubber bands or pins to keep it out of the face.
Another aspect of business etiquette that Mary should be aware of is greetings and
titles. In a business setting, a handshake is an acceptable form of greeting. Another alternative
involves greeting a person with ‘Namaste’ accompanied by pressing palms together with
finger pointing upwards and a slight bow (Kolanad 2008). The latter option may be used in
cases where one is meeting with highly conservative business people who may consider a
man shaking hands with a woman as inappropriate (Migliore 2011). It is also essential to
always greet the most senior person first in case there are several people. The right hand is
also used when handing out things such as business cards, drinks, or gifts. Small talk is
considered appropriate before the start of business conversations. It is also recommended that
one uses formal titles and Mr. or Mrs. When one is not sure of the title. It is also vital to
consider the perception that seniority also refers to age.
The third factor involves body language. In India, personal space is valued, and
physical contact is seldom. Indians are also highly expressive and use body language
extensively to complement verbal messages. Pointing feet towards someone is considered
disrespectful and should be avoided. It is also polite to always avoid stepping over things but
instead walk around them (Kumar and Sethi 2016). Pointing with fingers is also found to be
rude. If pointing is a must, the thumb is a better option with the other fingers curled into a fist
and the palm facing upward. Indians do not encourage public displays of affection (Martin
and Chaney 2012).
Business cards and gifts are vital components of business negotiations. A business
card needs to be comprehensive and straightforward. It should contain elements such as
name, title, position, company, and contact information. Gifts are often not given during the
first business meeting. They can be given once the relationship has been established. When
Mary is seeking to expand her business by setting up operations in India. She is
confident that her array of products will do well in the country. India has one of the world's
fastest growing economy and a mostly youthful population which promises a vast market. If
her expansion move to India is to be successful, Mary needs to understand various aspects of
Indian culture and how they relate to conducting business. The trip to India to meet Mr.
Sharma is a step in the right direction as it can be an excellent learning opportunity. It is
essential to make a good first impression during the meeting. This paper analyzes various
aspects of Indian business etiquette as well as how they may conflict with what Mary is used
to Australia.
The first aspect relates to appearance. As a woman, professional appearance requires
achieving the acceptable level of attire, makeup, jewelry, fingernails, perfumes and scents,
and hairstyle. While these may seem to be too many aspects of appearance to consider, they
are vital elements in the Indian culture regardless of whether one is doing business or not.
Indian women wear clothes such as suits, skirts, trousers, and saris (Martin and Chaney
2012). For a professional setup, it is essential to wear suits that are largely dark colored. The
legs and arms need to be as covered as possible. The makeup is acceptable, but it needs to be
light, simple and appropriate. Jewelry needs to be used conservatively. For instance, an
earring can be small and above the earlobe while a necklace can be a small chain with a
pendant. Bracelets are also acceptable. The jewelry worn needs to be minimal and such that it
does not make noise (Kolanad 2008). A complete professional look often requires accessories
such as a purse. One small dark colored, quality purse is an essential accessory. Perfume
needs to be light to ward of sweat odor while not filling the entire room the wearer walks in.
Nail polish is acceptable as long as the nails are clean and well-trimmed (Martin and Chaney
2012). The best polish can be light and plain rather than nail art. The hair can be styled neatly
and conservatively. The hair can be tied with rubber bands or pins to keep it out of the face.
Another aspect of business etiquette that Mary should be aware of is greetings and
titles. In a business setting, a handshake is an acceptable form of greeting. Another alternative
involves greeting a person with ‘Namaste’ accompanied by pressing palms together with
finger pointing upwards and a slight bow (Kolanad 2008). The latter option may be used in
cases where one is meeting with highly conservative business people who may consider a
man shaking hands with a woman as inappropriate (Migliore 2011). It is also essential to
always greet the most senior person first in case there are several people. The right hand is
also used when handing out things such as business cards, drinks, or gifts. Small talk is
considered appropriate before the start of business conversations. It is also recommended that
one uses formal titles and Mr. or Mrs. When one is not sure of the title. It is also vital to
consider the perception that seniority also refers to age.
The third factor involves body language. In India, personal space is valued, and
physical contact is seldom. Indians are also highly expressive and use body language
extensively to complement verbal messages. Pointing feet towards someone is considered
disrespectful and should be avoided. It is also polite to always avoid stepping over things but
instead walk around them (Kumar and Sethi 2016). Pointing with fingers is also found to be
rude. If pointing is a must, the thumb is a better option with the other fingers curled into a fist
and the palm facing upward. Indians do not encourage public displays of affection (Martin
and Chaney 2012).
Business cards and gifts are vital components of business negotiations. A business
card needs to be comprehensive and straightforward. It should contain elements such as
name, title, position, company, and contact information. Gifts are often not given during the
first business meeting. They can be given once the relationship has been established. When
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