If you happen to hail from a place in the world where the vast majority of your business takes place over the phone or via email – and involves making snap decisions – you’ll be a bit taken aback when you arrive in the Philippines. As with many other Asian spots, the pace of business is decidedly slower than it is in Australia or other western cultures, and it’s important that you understand this to ensure smooth business relations. Filipinos emphasis trust above many other values and it’s important to know that they believe that good things come to those who wait.
Image source: servcorp.com.ph
It’s important that you set yourself up correctly when you do look to trade or do business in the Philippines – and a great way to do this in a cost-effective way is to sign up for a virtual office. A virtual office gives you the freedom and flexibility of a prestigious address in the city center without the costs associated with a commercial lease. It’s a great way to get established with your business – so look into it here: www.servcorp.com.ph/en/virtual-offices/.
Business Meetings
When you are organizing meetings in the Philippines it’s pretty common for people to make meeting appointments for months in advance. It’s a courtesy (as it is anywhere else in the world) to confirm the date, time and location a few days beforehand, and make sure you send the necessary information to the meeting attendees with plenty of time for them to look over the information. Even if your business has been working with the people you are meeting for a while, you will be treated like a newcomer to the relationship if this is the first time you’ve met in person. Oh, and make sure you’re on time for the meeting.
Read also: Lead Effective Business Meetings
Introductions
If you are visiting it’s customary for your to submit your business card first. But – be aware that if your rank isn’t comparable or higher to the Filipino recipient you may not get one back. As with any other Asian culture, the business card is presented with both hands and facing up to the person. Make sure you greet the oldest or highest-ranked person in a meeting first. A firm handshake is required – and you can address people by their title and surname until such a time as familiarity has been established.
Eating
It’s often the case that light refreshments or snacks are served at a business meeting. You shouldn’t offend your host by declining the items served – even if you’re not hungry! A small token works fine, even if it’s a nibble or a sip of something. If meeting in a restaurant or a private home, be sure to follow the lead of the host and wait to be told where you should sit and when to eat. Always follow up from an invitation with a written thank you.
Giving a gift
If you’re thinking of giving a gift to a Filipino business associate it’s actually very important how the gift is presented. It reflects the amount of thought that you dedicated to the gesture and so you need to make sure that you wrap the gift just as elaborately as if it were for a very special birthday or event! Don’t be disappointed if your gift isn’t unwrapped until after you have left. Gift giving for people in the home should be restricted to things like edible chocolates and candies. If you give anything else, it’s taken as an insult that you think the household is poor and needs your help.
Read also: Some Corporate Gifts That Will Make Your Employees Greatly Happy
Building a successful business relationship is simple when you know how! Good luck with building your business in the Philippines.