Chile Business Etiquette

 

Dress Code:

  • Business dress should be conservative, eliminating bright colors and busy patterns.
  • Woman: Low heels with dark suits
  • Men: Typical dark suit with white shirt are the norm.
  • Jeans and shirt are fine for public wear but you'll rarely see adults wearing shorts in this country.

Conversation

  • Talk about music, art, sports or interesting trivia from America but never personal questions concerning income, spouse, religion or government positions.
  • Interruptions are common and a sign of interest
  • South Americans generally converse in closer proximity than North Americans
  • Talk about food and particularly wine--Chile is known to produce some of the finest wines in the world.
  • Avoid Politics and religion discussions

Months to avoid planning business trips:

  • January and February are summer months in Chile for vacation therefore avoid planning business trips at that time.

Meetings

  • Schedule appointments three to four weeks in advance and call a few days ahead of time to confirm before purchasing travel tickets.
  • Good times for scheduling meetings are late morning or mid-afternoon.
  • Since business is done slowly in Chile plan on making several trips before the deal is done.
  • For all business-related occasions, punctuality is appreciated and expected from visitors to Chile.

Negociating

  • Have your business card translated into Spanish on the reverse side.
  • Smiling and making eye contact are part of the ritual of presenting and receiving cards.
  • This can be a very formal society, and it is considered important to keep any business cards you receive in excellent condition. Investing in a card case will be helpful in ensuring that your cards stay well preserved.
  • Establishing rapport and friendship remains key to conducting business and effective problem-solving.
  • An initial visit should be made by an upper-level executive, accompanied by mid-level executives. Mid-level executives will attend subsequent visits to conduct negotiations that go into greater depth.
  • Many Chilean women are professionally advanced.
  • Chilean business culture is not as bureaucratic as other Latin American countries; higher-level executives have reputation for efficiency.
  • Generally, contract agreements are followed rigidly, problems are resolved swiftly, and payments are made promptly on the deadline.

Business entertainment

  • Breakfast is usually taken between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m
  • Customarily, there is a two-hour break for lunch--the biggest meal of the day-- that can occur sometime between noon and 3:00 p.m
  • A small break, known as "onces", may be taken between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. "Onces" includes bite-sized sandwiches, tea, pastries, and other snacks.
  • Dinner is served between 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. If you are invited for drinks at a home, you will probably be invited to dinner as well
  • Staying at one of the finer international hotels in Chile will help you create a good impression as a visitor
  • Business entertaining usually takes place at major restaurants and hotels. Making the payment arrangements in advance, so that your guests will not insist on picking up the tab, is an efficient and tasteful way to host. If you are a guest, reciprocate the hospitality at a later date.
  • Business entertaining is usually a social event and the best policy is to let your host initiate any discussion of business.
  • At parties, greet and shake hands with each person individually
  • When invited to an individual's home, arriving 15 minutes late is considered good manners. For a dinner party, guests can arrive at least 30 minutes late.
  • When your Chilean contact proposes a toast to you, propose another in return, and include a "Salud!".
  • Chileans value good table manners and will observe how you measure up. The "continental" style of dining is a must: the knife stays in the right hand and the fork remains positioned in the left. These utensils are never switched
  • "Finger food" is not a part of formal meals, so it is necessary to use the utensils provided
  • Always keep your hands visible when dining, with your wrists resting on the edge of the table. It is considered bad form to keep the hands concealed.
  • Before smoking, it's considered polite to offer cigarettes to your companions first.
  • Thank-you gifts or notes are not part of Chilean custom. After a dinner party or similar occasion, the best policy is to make a phone call expressing your thanks

Gifts

  • Gifts are not usually given at the beginning of a business relationship but later when a friendship has started.
  • When invited to a home, gifts from your home land, candy or flowers are acceptable.
  • Avoid yellow flowers which are a sign of hatred, and purple or black flowers which are a symbol of death.

Public Conduct

  • Often, women greet each other by quickly touching cheek to cheek and kissing the air
  • The group "hello" might be perceived as rude.
  • Note that as friendships develop and solidify, handshakes are often followed by enthusiastic kissing, hugging, and backpatting.
  • You will have to speak not only at a closer distance, but also maintain eye contact as an assurance of your genuine interest.

Tipping:

  • 10-15% in restaurants, less in bars and cafes.
  • $1.00 per bag to porters
  • None to taxi drivers

Content by www.MercaTrade.com

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