Cross Cultural Etiquette and Manners: Singapore

Singapore: Etiquette and Manners

• Age, hierarchical position or status of a person are important in Singapore business world and society.
• Group dependence and group harmony are more important than those of an individual in Singapore culture. So, group is more important than an individual.
• Business dealings are more formal.
• Meetings and appointments should be planned and dates decided well in advance, say two weeks or so before.
• Many businesses are closed around Chinese new year for almost a week- this is in late January and early February. Plan your meetings accordingly.
• Arrive for the meeting punctually.
• Introductions are done in order of age or status. Elderly person or the person with the highest status is introduced first.
• Greetings can be exchanged with hand-shake in business environment. In social setup, particularly with older people, greeting by way of bowing the head is acceptable.
• Men and women may shake hands if woman takes the initiative in extending her hand first. To be on the conservative side, when being introduced to someone of the opposite sex, bowing or nodding the head and giving smile are OK.
• Exchange your business cards after the introductions.
• Give your business card by using both hands.
• Receive business cards, examine them carefully to display your respect and then alone put them in your business cards case.
• Seating arrangement in meetings follows hierarchy and therefore, wait to be told about your and your associates’ seats.
• Personal relationships help in building the business relationships in Singapore.
• In business meetings, the business agenda follows an initial small talk.
• You will have to give lot of attention to the non-verbal body language, silence, hints and such subtlety of their communications. Explicit "no" is normally not used by Singaporeans.
• Pace of business negotiations is rather slow normally.
• Normally, decisions are taken in group by a consensus.
• Do not give gifts in the formal dinners.
• When invited at homes, it is good to give gifts.
• Wrap the gift in wrappers of pleasant colors and hand it over with both the hands.
• Give the gift when you are departing.
• While receiving the gift, do not open it in front of the host.

For the cross cultural manners related to USA, UK, India, China, Japan, Australia and New Zealand refer: http://cross-cultural-etiquette.blogspot.com/

(Also refer: http://shyam.bhatawdekar.net/index.php/2010/01/11/etiquette-and-manners/ or http://executive-manners.blogspot.com/ for general etiquette and manners, http://shyam.bhatawdekar.net/index.php/2010/01/09/dining-etiquette-and-table-manners-5/ or http://dining-manners.blogspot.com/ dining etiquette and table manners, http://shyam.bhatawdekar.net/index.php/2009/12/31/telephone-etiquette/ or http://telephone-etiquette.blogspot.com/ for telephone etiquette) and http://shyam.bhatawdekar.net/index.php/2010/01/10/email-etiquette/ or http://email-etiquette-manners.blogspot.com/)

Originally posted at http://cross-cultural-etiquette.blogspot.com/ Wednesday, July 22, 2009

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