Audrey RIVIER, M2 RET 061 Business Etiquette in Ireland and in France

Audrey RIVIER, M2 RET 062 Summary Making Appointments Making Appointments Prosperous Entertaining Prosperous Entertaining What you should know before Negotiating… What you should know before Negotiating… Public Behaviour Public Behaviour

Audrey RIVIER, M2 RET 063 MakingAppointments Making Appointments Appointments are easy to schedule Appointments are easy to schedule Business hours : 9 am to 5.30 pm, with 1-hour lunch Business hours : 9 am to 5.30 pm, with 1-hour lunch Avoid scheduling around Christmas and Easter Avoid scheduling around Christmas and Easter A very relaxed sense of time… A very relaxed sense of time… Appointments are difficult to schedule Appointments are difficult to schedule Business hours : 8.30 or to 7.00 pm, with 2-hour lunch Business hours : 8.30 or to 7.00 pm, with 2-hour lunch Avoid scheduling around Christmas, Easter & August Avoid scheduling around Christmas, Easter & August 10 minutes late, but still remain punctual ! 10 minutes late, but still remain punctual !

Audrey RIVIER, M2 RET 064 Prosperous Entertaining “Troubles are often sorted over a pint” “Troubles are often sorted over a pint” Lunch or dinner invitations Lunch or dinner invitations Gifts Gifts Business lunches Business lunches Invitation to dinner Invitation to dinner (American advice) Gifts Gifts

Audrey RIVIER, M2 RET 065 What you should know before Negotiating… Handshake Handshake Meetings can be held at the office, at the restaurant, in pubs or on a golf course Meetings can be held at the office, at the restaurant, in pubs or on a golf course A friendly attitude very often misleads foreigners A friendly attitude very often misleads foreigners Handshake or “bise” Handshake or “bise” Meetings are held in an office Meetings are held in an office Formality and reserve in negotiations Formality and reserve in negotiations

Audrey RIVIER, M2 RET 066 What you should know before Negotiating… Aggressive sales are disliked Aggressive sales are disliked Speak plainly Speak plainly Planning and strategy : short term Planning and strategy : short term Improvise, creative, calm in a crisis Improvise, creative, calm in a crisis Take their time to negotiate a contract Take their time to negotiate a contract Networks Networks Aggressive sales are disliked Aggressive sales are disliked Proposals need to be carefully planned and logically organised Proposals need to be carefully planned and logically organised Take their time to negotiate a contract Take their time to negotiate a contract Networks Networks

Audrey RIVIER, M2 RET 067 Public Behaviour Uncomfortable with loud, aggressive and arrogant behaviour Uncomfortable with loud, aggressive and arrogant behaviour Professional titles are not prevalent Professional titles are not prevalent Avoid boasting or using sarcasm Avoid boasting or using sarcasm Easy Friendliness is seen as suspicious Easy Friendliness is seen as suspicious Professional titles or not prevalent. Professional titles or not prevalent. Enjoy low voices and value privacy Enjoy low voices and value privacy

Audrey RIVIER, M2 RET 068 Public Behaviour Remain sincere, friendly & relaxed Remain sincere, friendly & relaxed If you are teased, take it good-naturedly Arm’s length distance when speaking Maintain eye contact and a good posture Maintain eye contact and a good posture French do not enjoy jokes…?? French do not enjoy jokes…?? Stand close Stand close

Audrey RIVIER, M2 RET 069 Conclusion Lack of familiarity with a country’s cultural business etiquette remains an important issue in establishing a successful market abroad Lack of familiarity with a country’s cultural business etiquette remains an important issue in establishing a successful market abroad Neglecting these differences can lead to misunderstandings, frustration and loss of business Neglecting these differences can lead to misunderstandings, frustration and loss of business It implies a continued effort to recognize expectations and business practises abroad It implies a continued effort to recognize expectations and business practises abroad

Audrey RIVIER, M2 RET 0610 Thank you for your attention