Speaking about the peculiarities of business etiquette of any country, it is necessary to understand that they are all a consequence of certain national characteristics and historically established traditions.
The first thing to note about the Spaniards is that by nature they are very open and friendly people, they can be very serious if required, but at the same time they have a wonderful sense of humor. A very important feature of the Spanish character is the unpredictability of their character and behavior, which is sometimes unpredictable for them. Spaniards don't care much about what others think of them. For the most part, Spaniards pay less attention to manners than other nations. But in general, they do not ignore the basic rules of business etiquette.
Previously, due to climatic conditions (i.e. hot weather), all Spaniards followed a wonderful tradition - to rest every day from 13:00 to 16:00. This time is called siesta. At this time, lunch and afternoon rest from work and heat were reserved. Almost all banks, shops and even government agencies. The tradition was strictly observed throughout Spain. True, since 2005, changes have been made to the leisure schedule of the Spaniards - lunch time was reduced to 1 hour - the government decided that long breaks in work do not have the most favorable effect on the country's economy.
Sunday is also considered a full day off in Spain, and this is really a day off when absolutely all shops, banks and businesses are closed.
It is worth noting that in Spain it is not customary to rush and rush, perhaps this is again due to climatic conditions, extreme heat and harsh climate, this state of affairs also affects the performance of Spaniards and you should not expect them to be excessively active or to arrive on time for a meeting.
Business etiquette in Spain
Consideration of the national characteristics of the Spaniards helps us better understand the subtleties of business etiquette when conducting any joint projects with them.
The first thing that needs to be noted about the peculiarities of Spanish etiquette in general is that words such as “Sorry” or “thank you” are not heard so often when Spaniards communicate. The Spaniards consider this behavior to be too rude. When communicating with people, they do not hide their emotions, both negative and positive.
Business communication between Spaniards among themselves or with foreign partners is considered the easiest in the world.
The appellations “don” and “donya” added to names are an expression of deep respect. These forms of treatment are applied to people of high social level: academicians, doctors, lawyers and other people with higher education, and are also a sign of noble origin.
Lack of punctuality is a common trait among Spaniards. Which affects, of course, less often in business communication. But in relation to a foreign partner they are very official. So, when going to Spain, you definitely need to inform your Spanish partners about your arrival in the country. The greeting ceremony is usual: shaking hands and exchanging business cards. But in Spain itself, when meeting men, they hug tightly, which should be kept in mind. In Spain, when meeting, it is customary not only to shake women’s hands, but to kiss them on both cheeks.
The meeting should not be scheduled for midday - siesta time. About this national peculiarities mentioned above. Spaniards eat late. They have breakfast at 14:00, lunch at 22:00. During dinner, avoid topics such as the civil war, the Franco period, bullfighting, personal life, such topics are considered very personal and are not discussed with business partners.
Negotiations are conducted with one or more partners and begin with a discussion of weather, sports, attractions, etc. Spaniards too great value ensure that negotiations involve people occupying approximately the same position in business world. Since the Spaniards love to talk, the rules are not respected.
The most important word in the Spanish vocabulary is "mañana" (usually accompanied by a shrug). One can only guess what the Spaniard intended when he uttered this word. It can mean anything: “tomorrow”, “sometime tomorrow”, “the day after tomorrow”, “next week”, “in a week”, “next month”, “next year”, “later”, “ somehow,” “never,” or “no way.” Therefore, if deadlines are very important to you or you are not sure exactly what kind of semantic load this expression carries, do not hesitate to clarify, since otherwise you risk getting a whole series of problems without understanding your interlocutor.
Since the Spaniards are never in a hurry, they can talk to you about their affairs for hours. An old Spanish tradition is an evening walk around the city to see friends, as well as its inevitable consequence - idle conversation. Spaniards indulge in conversation anywhere and at any time. Therefore, when conducting a business meeting, it is necessary to control the conversation, since there is a possibility of losing the thread of the conversation or it will simply go in a different direction.
It is considered indecent to interrupt your interlocutor or hint to him that you have another meeting. This is considered highly offensive and you risk losing partnerships with your interlocutor. In Spain it is not customary to invite business partners home. However, if this happens, bring flowers and wine as a gift. Avoid too expensive gifts, they will be perceived as a bribe, the partner may be offended.
Otherwise, you must adhere to generally accepted rules business communication. Knowing all these features will allow you to establish good contact with your Spanish partner and conduct your meetings at the proper level, characterizing yourself as a good business partner.
Do Spaniards spend so much time talking? How do Spaniards stand in line?Manners
Etiquette
The fact that in ninety-eight cases out of a hundred no one comes to such meetings is considered good form. The Spaniards consider it bad form not to listen to the end of your interlocutor, no matter who he is and no matter what he says.
And since the Spaniards are never in a hurry, they can tell you about their affairs for hours. And since interrupting your interlocutor or hinting to him that you have another meeting is considered indecent, then resign yourself and reassure yourself that the one with whom you had an appointment five hours ago is not waiting impatiently for you at the appointed place, because he himself listens to the endless stories of his friend, whom he, like you, also cannot interrupt and therefore is already late for three trains and two buses.
Since unpunctuality is a common trait among Spaniards, many married couples live in the happy confidence that they will never have cuckolds, because committing adultery in Spain is simply impossible.
The husband, of course, can rent a room for a fleeting rendezvous with his secretary, say, on Tuesday afternoon, while his wife is visiting her aunt who lives somewhere very far away, but this meeting is unlikely to take place, because:
1. On the way to the hotel, he can meet his classmate and invite her for a cup of coffee to remember his youth (three hours).
2. The secretary may be invited to a cup of coffee by another secretary to discuss whether she should go to a rendezvous (four hours).
3. The wife may not go to her aunt who lives far away, because at the station she may meet a very nice young man who will invite her for a cup of coffee at the station buffet to tell her how much he likes her figure (from two to three hours) .
Queues
Of course, I cannot say that queues in stores are an invention of the Spaniards, but getting ahead in a store, and the rougher the better, is considered a matter of honor here. "Extranjeros" (foreigners) do not immediately learn the art of queuing at, say, a butcher shop.
The big advantage here is the strong, sharp elbows and solid weight; It wouldn’t hurt to know what’s going on in the butcher’s family in order to give him some advice over the heads of those in front.
The butcher or his wife or his apprentice is so much above the fuss on the other side of the counter that they serve not the one who stood in line, but the one who came into view or told them the latest story.
If you have fresh gossip in your stash about a girl that your neighbor managed to “picture,” then you can be sure that you will get your piece of pork without a queue.
It happens that foreigners are allowed to go ahead. Naive foreigners! They don't know that the reason for this is not politeness at all. The Spaniards give them such attention for the sole purpose of quickly pushing them out of the store in order to have a good laugh at their, say, funny straw hat.
The specifics of the Spanish mentality are known far beyond the country's borders. As you know, Spaniards are not known for their punctuality; they are friendly, verbose, temperamental and, what is especially important in entrepreneurial environment, - are open for cooperation. Spanish businessmen are not characterized by cold prudence - their partner is of interest to them as a person, therefore, in particular, it is quite difficult to fit a business meeting within the framework of the regulations. Such nuances form the basis of business etiquette in Spain, which are important to consider if you are planning to open a business in Spain.
Rules of Spanish business etiquette
Correct business etiquette in Spain involves appropriate behavior when meeting partners for the first time. A few points to keep in mind:
- The first meeting traditionally begins with a handshake and exchange business cards. Spaniards are not the type to keep their distance when communicating, so in some cases hugs and pats on the shoulder are allowed;
- Those lower in the business hierarchy are introduced first. Additionally, as part of Spanish business etiquette, the man must introduce himself to the woman first;
- The address "senor"/"signora" is one of the main rules of business etiquette accepted in Spain; Spaniards have a multi-active understanding of time. Being 15-30 minutes late for a meeting is acceptable;
- The idea of a dress code in the Spanish worldview differs little from the universal rules. In accordance with Spanish business etiquette, a formal business suit is appropriate for a business meeting.
Business suit in accordance with Spanish business etiquette
As for the dress code rules for men, a classic dark suit in combination with a light long-sleeved shirt and a well-chosen tie (its color depends on the season) would be most appropriate. A common feature of the Spanish style of dressing can be called slight negligence, but you should not allow this to happen when going to a meeting with business partners.
Business etiquette in Spain implies that the ideal women's clothing is a discreet, stylish business suit. The main conditions are the absence of large and flashy accessories, excessive makeup and sloppy hairstyle. Dark or calm pastel colors are preferred in clothing.
Proper business etiquette in Spain for business meetings
Within the framework of Spanish business etiquette, there are several general mandatory rules:
- You should not make an appointment with your partners too early or during siesta. The ideal time is from 14:00 to 18:00.
- It is better to inquire about table reservations, prices and menu features in advance;
- Proper business etiquette in Spain involves discussing general topics (sports, travel, politics) before a business conversation. The role of moderator of the conversation is usually performed by the inviting party.
- If a business partner invites you home, you should bring a gift (for example, a bottle of wine) and take care of small gifts for all family members of the colleague present.
Doing business in Spain involves certain nuances and pitfalls. INEEDSpain specialists will provide both consulting services on administrative and technical issues of doing business in Spain, as well as assistance in registration necessary documentation, and will help your business become even more successful.
The Spaniards are a noisy, disorganized and unpredictable people. They themselves do not know how they will behave in the next minute. Spaniards don't care much about what others think of them. For the most part, Spaniards pay less attention to manners than other nations. They, of course, expect their children to behave decently in public, but at the same time they are not scolded.
They are always late or simply do not show up for meetings that they themselves make, and do not sleep, except for a siesta. Siesta - two hours of afternoon sleep (15.00-17.00). This is the most beloved and “holy” activity of the Spaniards. Anyone who finds himself on his feet during siesta is considered abnormal. During siesta hours it is almost impossible to find any open store, not even people on the street. The country seems to freeze.
Whenever a personal question is asked, they just shrug their shoulders, because from their point of view it does not matter. At the same time, they have a passion for shameless moralizing, so don’t be surprised.
“Sorry” or “thank you” are words rarely heard on the streets. No one expects a word of gratitude or an apology from you for a minor offense. The Spaniards think that this is all an affectation. They don’t hide their pleasure, but they don’t try to hide their displeasure either.
The Spanish way of speaking to each other is probably the simplest in the whole world. In Spanish, the polite "you" coexists with the less formal "you", but when introduced, Spaniards completely forget about the polite "you". However, addressing "you" is unacceptable in relation to elderly ladies and important people. And the address “you”, pronounced mockingly, can be a great insult. It makes it clear to the recipient that he is not behaving in the best way. In Spain, when meeting, it is customary not only to shake women’s hands, but to kiss them on both cheeks.
The appellations “don” and “donya” added to names are an expression of deep respect. These forms of address apply to academics, doctors, lawyers and other people with higher education, and are also a sign of noble birth.
Spaniards love to get to know each other, they adore their friends, old and new, and therefore make endless meetings in cafes, restaurants, bars, etc. to have breakfast, afternoon, lunch, coffee, dinner, coffee at night, drink some more. coffee at night and more coffee at night. The fact that in ninety-eight cases out of a hundred no one comes to such meetings is considered the norm. Lack of punctuality is a common trait among Spaniards.
The most important word in the Spanish vocabulary is "mañana" (usually accompanied by a shrug). One can only guess what meaning the Spaniard intended when he uttered this word. It can mean anything: “tomorrow”, “sometime tomorrow”, “the day after tomorrow”, “next week”, “in a week”, “next month”, “next year”, “later”, “ somehow,” “never,” or “no way.”
Since the Spaniards are never in a hurry, they can talk to you about their affairs for hours. An old Spanish tradition is an evening walk around the city to see friends, as well as its inevitable consequence - idle conversation. Spaniards indulge in conversation anywhere and at any time.
It is considered indecent to interrupt your interlocutor or hint to him that you have another meeting. Do not insult the Spaniards, otherwise the flow of curse words will not be stopped.
Features of Spanish cuisine
If you decide to have a dinner party, invite your Spanish friends two hours in advance. Avoid hot dishes, because if your guests happen to arrive on time, they will talk at length about how they did it, and the hot dish will still turn cold.
Since Spaniards don't like to talk about time and never plan anything, you can only guess about the hour of lunch or dinner. If you are invited to visit, bring a bouquet of flowers or something sweet with you.
In Spain, it is not customary to immediately accept an invitation to lunch or dinner. It is most likely a simple formality. Agree only after the third invitation, then you will probably be invited sincerely. It is also not customary to arrive at the exact appointed time; you must be 15-20 minutes late. Spaniards usually have dinner starting at 21.00. Spanish restaurants never close before 3.00.
It is the unpunctuality of the Spaniards that underlies the fact that their national dish is paella - a mixture of fried chicken, boiled fish, half-raw squid, raw shrimp, tomatoes, peas, red peppers, green peppers, saffron and rice. Nobody knows what paella should actually taste like. So no one complains if it suddenly turns out to be undercooked or overcooked.
All the necessary paella ingredients can be prepared in advance, and then lie waiting for guests. And when they finally show up, in about twenty minutes, while the guests are devouring gazpacho (cold soup of tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, bread, olive oil and garlic), you can have time to prepare paella.
Spaniards consume huge amount fried fish, shrimp, baked pork, fried squid, grilled sardines, grilled chicken, grilled peppers, grilled anchovies and grilled octopus, as well as smoked ham without sauce, which is not very popular here.
Typically, the day begins with freshly baked bread, which the Spaniards dip in olive oil and garlic, and black coffee, often with a drop of brandy or anise bitters. Children usually eat churros (pretzel dough) for breakfast, which they dip in thick hot chocolate.
For lunch (which is never before three o'clock) there are usually puzzles or French fries. These potatoes can also be called a national dish precisely because they can be prepared in advance, and then only thrown into boiling olive oil when guests begin to complain of hunger. Potatoes are eaten with absolutely everything, including paella.
A common dish is any light snack from olives and eggs with mayonnaise to smoked sausage and fried goat, which is served throughout the day in most bars.
Spaniards start drinking at two o'clock in the morning and do it in nightclubs before most offices open, that is, until 10.30 am. Particularly popular are ice-cold beer, gin and tonic, cold white wine, and ice-cold red wine.
Visiting the Mediterranean
The cult of hospitality originated in Ancient Greece and spread throughout the Mediterranean. It is curious that even in those distant times there were cunning people who went from house to house without an invitation and shamelessly enjoyed undeserved treats - the Greeks eloquently called such uninvited guests “parasites”!
Today, you can get into a respectable Mediterranean house only by personal invitation from the owners. But you don’t have to be an old family friend to do this - hospitable southerners love to meet tourists and often invite them to their place for dinner.
Traditionally, for guests to stay in villas in Spain, Italy, France, Greece and other Balkan countries, the owners equip a special room (“guest room”) and try to furnish it to the highest class: antique furniture made of precious wood, lace curtains self made, retro mirrors polished to a shine, colorful paintings and a small library serve as a real source of pride for the owners of seaside houses!
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