Business Tips for Poland
Conducting business in Poland can be a very unique experience for even the
most seasoned of business travelers. The Polish people, commonly referred
to as “Poles,” may seem very formal and stand-offish at first
meeting; however, they are very a very loving people who hold their families
and religious beliefs in the highest regard. Over 80% of the country’s
citizens are Catholic and the business culture of the country is very respectful
of their beliefs.
Building Business Relationships
When you are building business relationships in Poland, you need to first
understand that the Poles keep their personal and professional lives very
separate in their outward appearance. Poles have one group of “business” contacts
and another group of friends and family. However, the Polish people used
their inner circle of friends and family to help them in their business endeavors.
Poland is a country where “who you know” has a lot to do with
getting things accomplished.
Also of interest, is the fact that Polish government officials and those
in more traditional businesses tend to be more formal in their business dealings
and communications. Young entrepreneurs tend to be more open and friendly
when dealing with others in an attempt to be more “Western” in
appearance.
Business Introductions in Poland
Business introductions in Poland are formal yet friendly. The Poles tend
to be reserved yet courteous to visitors. You will be expected to introduce
yourself and offer a strong handshake while smiling and making direct eye
contact with others. You will find that in Poland, woman are introduced first,
followed by men. You may notice that older businessmen may kiss a woman’s
hand, rather than shake it. While this is acceptable behavior in Poland,
it is not acceptable for you to do it. If you kiss a woman’s hand you
will be viewed as making fun of this old tradition.
In Poland it is considered rude to use someone’s first name unless
invited by them to do so. Men should be referred to as “Pan” for
Mr. and “Pani” for Ms. along with their last name.
Business Cards in Poland
In Poland business cards are exchanged without any formal ceremony. Simply
hand your card to those you are introduced to. It is always a good idea if
you will be conducting a lot of business to have your business cards translated
into Polish, though this is not required or expected.
Teamwork and Individuality In Polish business meetings you can count on a team of people who work well
together, who tend to be managed by someone in charge of the group. You will
be expected to make small talk at the beginning of all meetings and to show
your hosts your character.
Polish Language
Polish is the official language of Poland; it is spoken by over 38 million
inhabitants of Poland. You will also find native
speakers of the Polish language in western Belarus and Ukraine, as
well as in eastern
Lithuania. Due to heavy emigration from Poland over the years,
millions of Polish-speakers may be found in countries such as France,
Ireland, Australia, Israel, Brazil, Canada, the United Kingdom, United
States, etc. It is estimated
that over 10 Million Poles live outside the borders of Poland.
The estimated number of native speakers
of the Polish worldwide is between 40 and 48 million. Use Software to Translate English to Polish and Polish to English While Poles do not expect others to know their unique language, they do
hold you in a place of higher respect when you come prepared to communicate
well with them. For this reason, and many others, it is a good idea to bring
along your laptop equipped with Polish translator software installed. Use
of a translation software can go a long way to helping to facilitate communication
in your meetings.
What Can Polish Translation Software Do For You? • Translate any written text from English to Polish or Polish to English
•
Convert e-mail messages, document, PDF, and spreadsheet files to/from
the Polish language
•
Translate communications and reports into Polish or English
•
Convert Microsoft Excel, Word and Power Point files into Polish or
English.
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 Polish
translation and put a note on the translated text to let the recipient know
you have
used translation software. This way if there is any question they can
refer back to the English.
Final Thoughts Conducting business in Poland can be a very rewarding adventure. Make sure
when you travel to Poland that you understand their Catholic customs and
traditions, and make sure to bring along your translation software to help
you better communicate your thoughts and requests.
Related Items
Polish Translation Software
|
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