Important things to keep in mind when doing business in Europe

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Europe is definitely seeing its share of problems in the last few years. Some of the members of the European Union are getting dangerously close to a bonafide bankrupt and it is seeing a lot of turmoil at the moment, especially when it comes to business and economy. You have countries like Greece in which people are on the streets, throwing Molotov cocktails at the police and government buildings, you have countries like Italy and Spain that are getting there in alarmingly big steps. However, the reality is that Europe is still a huge player and a huge market, especially for businesses and companies from the US. This is why it is important to know a few things about how business is conducted in Europe and what you need to remember if you are crossing Atlantic in order to do business there.

The first thing that you need to remember is that Europe is basically dozens and dozens of countries that are as different from each other as we are from Japan. Europe has a history that is so complex and so tumultuous that it can be difficult for an outsider to even begin to grasp what has happened over the centuries there. You may think that this is irrelevant, but the fact is that in Europe, history and politics play a much bigger role than in the US. For instance, pretty much every country in Europe has their nemesis, even though they are being very courteous to each other. However, the good news is that they do not allow any of this to affect their business. However, due to this particular diversity of Europe, it is near impossible to cover all the possibilities when it comes to their customs and the ways in which you should do business. Still, there are a few things that you simply have to remember and that you should always keep somewhere in the back of your mind.

First of all, business in Europe is a serious thing. It is extremely and noticeably serious and hierarchical. You may have countries like Russia or Germany where partying is hard, but when business is being talked about, things are as serious as they get. There is also something left of the old historical protocols in the feel of it. Joking is not really desirable in European business climate and in some places it is even frowned upon. Also, in most places, it is important to know how to keep your distance. Very rarely will you be invited to someone’s home or even given the permission to use their first name. Be respectful and remember the importance of formality. You should also familiarize yourself with the specific customs of each country. For instance, in some countries, it is expected that you kiss with the person you meet, in others; you are expected to shake hands. In some countries people will stand much closer to you than in others and you will also find that different hand and body gestures mean different things in different countries. However, it is easy to find out about stuff like this online.

Knowing what to talk about is essential in doing business in Europe. You will find that matters like politics and even history are considered much more important there. You should therefore learn at least the basics when it comes to history and politics of a specific country. If you do not find yourself very comfortable in such situations, you can always go for art or architecture or music. Also, make sure that you are certain about the level of intimacy of your conversations. Some European partners might find it rude if you are being too personal and informal.