ITALY Etiquette

I TALIAN S OCIETY & C ULTURE  Italian Family Values  Centre of the social structure.  Provides a stabilizing influence for its members.  The family provides both emotional and financial support to its members.  They respect and defer to those WHO ARE OLDER, THOSE WHO HAVE ACHIEVED A LEVEL OF BUSINESS SUCCESS. WHO COME FROM WELL - CONNECTED FAMILIES  Italian Style  Appearances matter, it indicates your social status, your family's background, and your education level.  First impressions are lasting impressions,  The concept of 'bella figura' or good image is important to Italians.  They unconsciously assess another person's age and social standing in the first few seconds of meeting them, often before any words are exchanged.  They are fashion conscious, including; clothes, how well a person dress, style, shoes, accessories, confidence and the way you carry yourself.

E TIQUETTE & C USTOMS IN I TALY  Meeting Etiquette  Greetings are enthusiastic yet rather formal.  The usual handshake with direct eye contact and a smile  Once a relationship develops, air-kissing on both cheeks, starting with the left is often added, as well as a, pat on the back between men.  Wait until invited to move to a first name basis.  Italians are guided by first impressions, so it is important that you demonstrate propriety and respect when greeting people, especially when meeting them for the first time.  Many Italians use calling cards in social situations, it include the person's name, address, title or academic honors, and their telephone number  Never give your business card in lieu of a calling card in a social situation.

 Gift Giving Etiquette  Do not give chrysanthemums as they are used at funerals.  Do not give red flowers as they indicate secrecy.  Do not give yellow flowers as they indicate jealousy  If you bring wine, make sure it is a good vintage, quality rather than quantity, is important.  Do not wrap gifts in black, as is traditionally a mourning color  Do not wrap gifts in purple, as it is a symbol of bad luck.  Gifts are usually opened when received. E TIQUETTE & C USTOMS IN I TALY

 Dress Etiquette Men and women should wear dark colored, conservative business suits. Elegant accessories are equally important for men and women.  Dining Etiquette  If an invitation says the dress is informal, wear stylish clothes that are still rather formal, i.e., jacket and tie for men and an elegant dress for women.  You may arrive between 15 minutes late if invited to dinner and up to 30 minutes late if invited to a party.  If you are invited to a meal, bring gift-wrapped such as wine or chocolates.  If you are invited for dinner and want to send flowers, have them delivered that day. E TIQUETTE & C USTOMS IN I TALY

 Table Manners  Remain standing until invited to sit down.  Follow the lead of the hostess ; she sits at the table first, starts eating first, and is the first to get up at the end of the meal.  An honored guest should return the toast later in the meal.  Always take a small amount at first so you can be cajoled into accepting a second helping.  Do not keep your hands in your lap during the meal; however, do not rest your elbows on the table either.  It is acceptable to leave a small amount of food on your plate.  If you do not want more wine, leave your wineglass nearly full. E TIQUETTE & C USTOMS IN I TALY

 Relationships & Communication  A third party introduction will go a long way in providing an initial platform from which to work.  Italians prefer face-to-face contact, so it is important to spend time in Italy developing the relationship.  Your business colleagues will be eager to know something about you as a person before conducting business with you, and trust you.  Italians are intuitive. Therefore, make an effort to ensure that your Italians colleagues like and trust you.  Networking can be an almost full-time occupation in Italy. Personal contacts allow people to get ahead.  Italians are extremely expressive communicators. They tend to be wordy, eloquent, emotional, and demonstrative, often using facial and hand gestures to prove their point. E TIQUETTE & C USTOMS IN I TALY

 Business Meeting Etiquette;  Appointments are mandatory and should be made in writing (in Italian) 2 to 3 weeks in advance, and reconfirm it in Italian.  Many companies are closed in August, and if they are open many Italians take vacations at this time, so it is best not to try to schedule meetings then.  In the north, punctuality is viewed as a virtue and your business associates will most likely be on time.  Have all your printed material available in both English and Italian, and hire an interpreter if you are not fluent in Italian.  It is common to be interrupted while speaking or for several people to speak at once.  People often raise their voice to be heard over other speakers, not because they are angry.  Although written agendas are frequently provided, they may not be followed. They serve as a jumping off point for further discussions.  Decisions are not reached in meetings. Meetings are meant for a free flow of ideas and to let everyone have their say. E TIQUETTE & C USTOMS IN I TALY

 Business Negotiation. In the north, people are direct, see time as money.. In the south, people take a more leisurely approach to life. Italians prefer to do business with high-ranking people.. Negotiations are often protracted.. Never use high-pressure sales tactics.. Heated debates and arguments often erupt in meetings. This is simply a function of the free-flow of ideas.. Decisions are often based more on how you are viewed by the other party than on concrete business objectives. E TIQUETTE & C USTOMS IN I TALY

 Business Cards. Business cards are exchanged after the formal introduction.. To demonstrate proper respect for the other person, look closely at their business card before putting it in your card holder.. It is a good idea to have one side of your business card translated into Italian.. If you have a graduate degree, include it on your business card.. Make sure your title is on your card. Italians like knowing how you fit within your organization. E TIQUETTE & C USTOMS IN I TALY

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