Business Tips for Italy
There is no other place on earth like Italy. Italy is a country which houses
the heart of the Catholic Church, as well as some of the best architecture
and artwork of the world. As a business traveler in Italy you will be amazed
by the sights, sounds, and deep rooted culture of the country. From the moment
you walk off of the plane, you will be in amazement.
The Italian people are very family orientated as well as being very style
conscious. Italy is a country where you want to dress in a stylish manner
and act with distinctive manners at all times as well.
Building Business Relationships
In building business relationships in Italy, you will want to be conscious
of the fact that Italians are very status conscious people. You will be judged
by your appearance and your actions from the moment you are first met. To
help make relationship building easier you are advised to dress very well
and act with as much manners and class as you possibly can. Also, punctuality
is highly regarded and you should always be on time to meetings.
Business Introductions in Italy
When meeting Italians for the first time you will be expected to shake hands
and make good eye contact. After a first greeting you may find that people
greet you with an “air kiss” starting on your left cheek and
moving to your right. Once again, you will want to dress and act with as
much class as possible. You can guarantee that you will be judged in your
first meeting. And, fortunately or unfortunately, in Italy first impressions
both matter and last!
Translate your Business Cards
In Italy, business cards are exchanged after formal introductions are completed.
You should hand your card to those who hand you theirs. When you receive
a business card you should take the time to read it carefully to show respect
to the person who gave it to you.
On your own business card you may want to include your title and any graduate
degree you have received. Italians like to understand how you fit within
your company’s structure and what your educational background is. You
may also want to translate your business cards into Italian on their backside
if you will be doing business in Italy frequently.
Teamwork and Individuality
Teamwork is paramount in Italian businesses. While there is a hierarchical
structure, with age and rank mattering greatly, a team approach is generally
taken in meetings. It is not uncommon to find meetings get loud and argumentative;
this is simply an expression of people sharing their ideas.
Use Software to Translate English to Italian or Italian to English
Italian business people expect that business will be conducted in the Italian
language. As a foreign traveler, you will be expected to bring along an Italian
translator to meetings. One way to accomplish this is by using an English/Italian
translation software package on your laptop.
What Can Italian Translation Software Do For You?
• Convert text from English to Italian or Italian to English
•
Translate e-mail messages and documents to/from the Italian language
•
Translate business letters, memorandum, and report into Italian or
English
•
Convert Word, Excel, Power Point and PDF files.
Tip: If you rely on software completely to do the translation and do not
have human to proof your document, send both the English and the Italian
translation and put a note on the translated text to let the recipient know
you have used software to do the translation for you. This way if there is
any question they can refer back to the original English document.
Final Thoughts
Just as the old cliché says – When in Rome, do as the Romans
do. Italy is a country where you want to assimilate yourself as much as possible
by appearing elegant and intelligent at all times. In business settings,
if you do not speak Italian, you will be expected to provide an Italian translator.
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