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» Business Meeting Etiquette :

• Appointments are required and should be made 3 to 4 weeks in advance.
It is a good idea to reconfirm a few days prior to the meeting, as situations may change.

• Avoid scheduling meetings the week before Easter.

• Avoid direct and continuous eye-contact during business conversations, since staring is generally considered to be rude and confrontational.

• Punctuality is expected. For the most part your Filipino colleagues will be punctual as well.

• Face-to-face meetings are preferred to other, more impersonal methods such as the telephone, fax, letter or email.

• Engage in light conversation with your Filipino business colleagues either before and/or after the meeting, since establishing a cordial personal relationship is very important in Philippine business culture.

• Send an agenda and informational materials in advance of the meeting so your colleagues may prepare for the discussion.

• The actual decision maker may not be at the meeting.

• Don’t raise your voice or interrupt while your Filipino business colleagues are talking, since this is usually considered offensive and shows a lack of respect.

• Avoid making exaggerated claims.

• It is important to remain for the period of social conversation at the end of the meeting.

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Relationships & Communication

• Filipinos thrives on interpersonal relationships, so it is advisable to be introduced by a third party.

• English is the preferred business language in the Philippines, and most written communication is written in English as well.

• It is crucial to network and build up a cadre of business associates you can call upon for assistance in the future.

• Business relationships are personal relationships, which mean you may be asked to do favors for colleagues, and they will fully expect you to ask them for favors in return.

• Once a relationship has been developed it is with you personally, not necessarily with the company you represent. Therefore, if you leave the company, your replacement will need to build their own relationship.

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Business Negotiation

• You may never actually meet with the decision maker or it may take several visits to do so.

• Decisions are made at the top of the company or by the senior person of the company.

• Filipinos avoid confrontation if at all possible. It is difficult for them to say ‘no’. Likewise, their ‘yes’ may merely mean ‘perhaps’.

• At each stage of the negotiation, try to get agreements in writing to avoid confusion or misinterpretation.

• Filipinos do business with people more than companies. If you change representatives during negotiations, you may have to start over. . Negotiations may be relatively slow. Most processes take a long time because group consensus is necessary.

• Decisions are often reached on the basis of feelings rather than facts, which is why it is imperative to develop a broad network of personal relationships.

• Do not remove your suit jacket unless the most important Filipino does.

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Business Cards

• You should offer your business card first.

• Make sure your business card includes your title and written in English as well.

• Present and receive business cards with two hands so that it is readable to the recipient.

• Examine the card briefly before putting it in your business card case.
Some senior level executives only give business cards to those of similar rank.

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Business Attire

• Filipino dress attire is usually conservative and many companies require employees to wear uniforms for others, business casual attire is the norm.

• Dress in suits and ties for men and conservative styles for women. Low necklines and high-rise hems are not acceptable. Bright colors are okay – not so in some countries. You’ll get a better idea of how casual you can go after you see what everyone else is wearing. As an outsider it’s better to be overdressed than to appear too casual.

For Business Etiquettes & Manners in other countries, Please Click Here »

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