Chinese Business Etiquette: Tips for a Successful Meeting with Mr. Lau

This article provides tips on Chinese business etiquette for a successful meeting with Mr. Lau. It covers aspects such as dressing, punctuality, and handshake. The article also provides recommendations for Mary to increase the success of the meeting and potential areas of cross-cultural miscommunication using Hofstede's model of culture.

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Pre-Calculus
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Introduction
Business mentality
The adage that goes that one does not need a second chance in order to make a first
impression is indeed quite true and thus it is quite essential for all and sundry to realize the
importance of a first impression. Mary should thus therefore understand that in order to meet
with Mr. Lau for the first time, it is important for her to first note that individuals are capable of
judging other people within only the first 3 -5 seconds of the meeting. Such judgment is also
subliminally made without any conscious thoughts.
Mary should at first understand that in the “Chinese Business” Culture, humility is
indeed an important virtue and that at most times, the art of “Chinese Business Etiquette” is to
establish relationships that are closely knit with their business contacts and in this case Mr. Lau.
There is need for Mary to have a moral excellence of not only being polite but also humble since
this greatly shapes the Chinese culture’s business etiquette (Ye, 2017). This is true and it is
associated to the fact that the Chinese Business etiquette is known to rely or dependent on
relationships in order to provide both a peaceful and social comfortable working environment.
In order to make a favorable first impression, it is important for Mary to note the fact that
the face concept indeed plays a crucial role in the “Chinese Business Etiquette”. As a new comer,
Mary should thus fully become aware of the fact that there are numerous ways that one can cause
potential partners to either lose or gain face. It is important for Mary to note that when any
approaching new markets, it is relevant to gain the trust as well as impress the client. For
instance, in the Chinese Business Culture, it is properly understood that spending some god
quality time with the business contact is quite essential because it makes them to feel

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comfortable. Mary should thus note that in her first meeting with Mr. Lau, this should be a
common approach that will enable her to do business.
On the Chinese Business etiquette, it is important for Mary to note that the Chinese
business professionals, Mr. Lau included are known to highly appreciate any attempts that are
made in order to communicate in their own Chinese language. This implies that the ability of
Mary to say some little words in the Chinese language such as “您您” or even “您您“ which means
hello in Chinese language while greeting him will indeed create a powerful first impression on
Mr. Lau. This is because it will help Mary to begin a relationship with Mr. Lau on the
appropriate foot.
It is important or Mary to note that the Chinese Business etiquette can be divided into
three major types namely dressing, punctuality, and handshake. This implies that in dressing,
Mary should note that this is actually one of the most important forms of etiquette since it
develops a good and positive impression for many Chinese people (Dolcos et al, 2017). Mary
should thus look presentable in order to persuade Mr. Lau as her business contact. In the Chinese
etiquette of business, the dressing in formal dark colors is normally regarded as being
professional as opposed to the bright “colored clothing”
The people of China are expected to be very prepared when attending the meeting. When
starting a meeting, people must briefly talk. For you to strike a meaningful deal people are
expected to establish a good, working relationship which Mary to meet a number of times. It is
good to maintain meetings, showing embarrassment or to be more emotional would lead to
negative result when negotiating a business. Chinese people strategically wish to gain advantage
in decision making by deliberately extending times of negotiation.

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Parties involved must be patient and appreciate this. The Chinese people follow order of
hierarchy at all times in all meetings, when dealing with them one must observe this. Chinese
business hours operate between 8 in the morning to five in the evening during week days.
Workers in China break from 12 mid day to 2pm between this, all work stop such like; works on
phone and lifts. The best appointments in China are best arranged between the months of April to
June, September to October.
Many firms in Western regions, the source of Chinese revenue is supposed to develop in
business. Understanding culture of Chinese Mary needs critical thinking capacity to expand the
market of China. The culture of China middlemen and etiquette is different compared to business
in Western regions (Hopkins, 2017). We have important considerations that are required by
Chinese business people to host a meeting concerning etiquettes that must be kept in mind while
managing business. Mary should consider punctuality; she should now try to arrive earlier than
the time expected for her to attend the minute or other engagements.
What is expected before the Chinese business meeting?
a) Appointment – Mary should try to take a booking for all her business sessions, she has to
check on the Chinese schedule calendar. When Mary is planning for a minute, she should
omit important holidays particularly “Chinese new year and National day” . Mary’s
preparation is to ensure that she gets important points for the meeting.
b) Materials in Chinese market – Mary should know that the raw materials is required for
her to carry out the Chinese language for example “presentations and brochures”,
regarding her visiting the firm to give the people going to meet. While the person Mary is
to meet in the firm may speak good English the management of the organization may not
be in that position.

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c) Dressing – Mary should know that in China putting on well is not required there is a
formality that occurs in other countries. Casual dressing is normally adopted by persons
working in different categories. Even though Mary will be held with higher regards if her
dressing is okay. Both men and women may conservatively dress without causing alarm.
Mary must realize that when doing business with state officials and those in management
top positions, she should try to dress in a formal way while attending the meeting.
Etiquette tips for managing business in China
It is a difficult task or work for the strangers to do business in China. Cable News Broadcast
Cooperation talked to two experts in communication etiquette; “Jaquelinne Whitmore of
Etiquette expert.com and Sharon Schweitzer of Protocol and Etiquette world wide” Etiquette tips
includes;
 Impression of dressing – the original impressions and looks are useful in the culture of
middlemen of China in business. The density of most expensive clothing assists to show
both modesty and status.
 Entrance – Chinese people go in to the room as per law of seniority. One should show
high rest to dedication leader of China. The group is introduced by one of the great rank
of the team (Ho, 2018).
 Handshakes -In China handshakes are not commonly used as in West, their greetings are
briefly short and “eye contact” is brief. There is interruption to eye sighting contact may
be a problem. Handshakes are also commonly but one must wait to the counterpart
Chinese to show the sign of greetings.

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Suitable recommendations for Mary to increase the success of the meeting
For the meeting to be successful, Mary should consider the following:
 Courtesy of tittles- Many crowds are addressed by their titles in society before
mentioning their last noun and never address them as comrades unless you are die heart
communist.
 Business cards – For one to be on the safe side, he/she must have English and mandarin
on “business card”. Presentation of the card requires to be done by two hands. The
Chinese side of the card should be on top, the opposite person must receive the attention
of the card. The officer receiving the card must do so by both hands, read it briefly before
placing it to the holder of the business card and not in their pocket or wallet. The Chinese
people regards that cards representations of other people, any business card received must
be treated with the respect it deserves (Du, 2017).
 Face – In China the concept of face is regarded as useful aspect of either gaining or
loosing ones honor or those who are in company with you. One should avoid loss of self
respect but instead try to show competency and control ones feelings.
 Don’t point – In China pointing a figure to your fellow is taken as being rude and an open
hand is used instead, where necessary “eye contact” is considered to draw the attention of
another person instead.
 Be prepared for more- People of China are comfort with numerous and long meeting to
ground trust when signing agreements a number of business is outside boardroom
environment in China.
 Be Yourself- Maintaining elf identity in China is considered very important. The Chinese
people put high regards on originality and they have a number of tolerances for people

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posturing around or seem to be pretending. People who are observed to be genuine,
observant and respect, have a chance to be taken more seriously by the people they have
visited (Nelson & Matthews, 2017).
Areas of Potential Cross-Cultural Miscommunication using the Hofstede Models of
Culture when interacting with the Chinese
Mary should not let the cultural differences to interfere with her successful meeting with MR.
Lau and thus based on Hofstede’s model of culture, she should embrace the motivational
orientations through three dimensions which are power distance, uncertainty, and masculinity
versus femininity. This implies that Mary should comprehend the distribution of numerous
emotional roles between numerous gender since duality of these sexes is indeed a
fundamental fact in which various societies across the world cope through different ways.

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References
Du, J., 2017. Constitute Knowing in MNE Subsidiaries in China: From a Dynamic System
Perspective. Electronic Journal of Knowledge Management, 15(2).
Ho, E.L.E., 2018. African student migrants in China: negotiating the global geographies of
power through gastronomic practices and culture. Food, Culture & Society, 21(1), pp.9-24.
Hopkins, R.A., 2017. Doing Business Around the World. In Grow Your Global Markets (pp. 83-
112). Apress, Berkeley, CA.
Katsumi, Y., Kim, S., Sung, K., Dolcos, F. and Dolcos, S., 2017. When nonverbal greetings
“make it or break it”: the role of ethnicity and gender in the effect of handshake on social
appraisals. Journal of Nonverbal Behavior, 41(4), pp.345-365.
Nelson, K. and Matthews, A.L., 2017. Foreign presents or foreign presence? Resident
perceptions of Australian and Chinese tourists in Niseko, Japan. Tourist Studies,
p.1468797617717466.
Ye, W., 2017. Taking Chinese to the World: Language, Culture and Identity in Confucius
Institute Teachers. Multilingual Matters.