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zum Thema fremden Kulturen |
Russland |
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Time and Patience Time is money to us, and punctuality a virtue. Meetings are expected to start on time, and work under pressure of the clock is a challenge routinely accepted. To Russians, with their agricultural heritage, time is like the seasons - a time for sowing and a time for reaping, and a time for doing little in between. Communism reinforced this native disrespect for time because workers could not be fired and there was no incentive to do things on time. Russians are notoriously not on time, but do not necessarily consider themselves late. When they do arrive, there are a number of rituals before a meeting: · First the small
talk, As a foreigner, you are expected to be on time to all business appointments. However, your Russian counterpart may be late, as this may be a test of your patience. Do not expect an apology from a late Russian, and do not demonstrate any kind of attitude if your business appointments begin one or two hours late. This may also be a test of your patience. Social events are more relaxed. It is acceptable for foreigners to be 15 to 30 minutes late. Patience is an extremely important virtue among Russians; punctuality is not. Russians are known as great "sitters" during negotiations, this demonstrates their tremendous patience. The U.S.S.R. was officially an atheist nation in the days of communism. Now, however, participation in religion in increasing, with many citizens practicing Protestantism, Islam, Russian Orthodoxy, and Judaism. There is a Russian term meaning "connections" or "influences. It is extremely difficult to do business in Russia without help from a local. To help with this, gifts, money or other items are often a good idea when doing business in Russia. If attending dinner at a family residence, it is appropriate to bring a gift, such as a bottle of wine, dessert, or a bouquet of flowers. When shaking hands with someone, be sure to take off your gloves, as it is considered rude not to. When attending any formal engagements such as the theatre, it is appropriate to check your coat and other belongings at the front door of the establishment. Do not show the soles of your shoes, as this is considered impolite. They are considered dirty, and should never come in contact with any type of seat (like on a subway or bus). Be sure to have plenty of business cards with double sides of information. One side should be printed in English, the other side in Russian. Be alert and open to taking a drink or having a toast, as refusing to do so is a serious breach of etiquette. Nyekulturny, Bad Manners; Nyekulturny is the wrong way, uncultured, bad-mannered way of behaviour. Some examples are: · wearing coats in
public buildings that have a cloakroom, Nearly all of these things seem rather "normal" to Americans and even to some Europeans. (Which of these things haven't you done today?) Drinks are always served with something to eat, even if only a cookie. (In conservative church circles the list of unacceptable behaviour goes on: Praying sitting, praying chewing gum, or with your legs crossed, women with their heads uncovered, etc.) Negotiating with Russians As a foreigner, you should realize that "Final Offers" are often not actually the end of the negotiations, and that often times the outcome will be more beneficial and attractive if you can hold out. Negotiations with Russians often involve flared tempers. During negotiations and meetings, temper tantrums and walkouts often occur. After the break up of the old Soviet Union, fifteen new independent states emerged. This number, however, is ever changing as boundaries are continually being modified. Russian proverb: "Don't hurry to reply, but hurry to listen." We generally regard compromise as desirable and inevitable, a logical way of doing business. Russians regard compromise as a sign of weakness, a retreat from a correct and morally justified position. They will often out-wait impatient Westerners to produce more concessions from them. Procedures and Tactics Know what you want. Stick to it. The Paperwork Russians often like to put agreements on paper, even recording what was discussed in negotiations. They also like to fill out lots of little forms for Russian bureaucrats to sort through. e.g. Sending a parcel by mail takes filling out six different forms, all asking the same information. Although Russians like paperwork, take note that written documents and contracts are often worth less than the paper they are written on. Knowing the legal rule and rights are essential. Current legal counsel is very important in contracts. Verification Trust, but verify . Areas such as determining profit or loss, or reporting on how funds were spent are not common skills developed under Communism. Expect the Unexpected Things seldom go as planned with Russians. They often say, "In principle, it can be done," but in practice, it may be another matter. Moreover, in trying to please and be good hosts, they may promise much more than they can actually deliver. A "yes", or "of course" does not always mean the same to Russians and to us. Business Dress · There is an old Russian proverb--"they meet you depending on how you're dressed and they say good bye depending on how wise you seem." · Now a days, Russian businesspeople pay a lot of attention to how they are dressed. Russian people in general probably spend more money from their family budget on clothing then any other nation in the world. Businessmen in Russia usually wear suits that are dark and well tailoredalong with good dress shoes. A businessman's wardrobe demonstrates the individual's image as a professional. · Men often do not take off their jackets in negotiations. Do not stand with your hands in your pockets. This is considered rude. · Women dress rather conservatively, avoiding overly flashy or gaudy outfits. Skirts should be worn rather than pants. Women should always cover their heads when entering into any Russian Orthodox Churches. Women must wear a long-sleeved blouse, a long skirt below the knees, and a head covering such as a scarf or hat, when visiting a Russian Orthodox church. · When attending dinner in a citizen's home, casual dress of slacks and a nice shirt without a tie are appropriate. · Those who can't afford to buy top fashion brand clothing (such as Versace, Armani, Gucci, Calvin Klein or Hugo Boss) prefer to be dressed in cheaper but still well made suits rather than wear the fake products widely available in numerous markets across the country. · If you're a man, your best bet will be to wear a suit and tie (make sure not to wear the same ones every day) for all your meetings, whether it's in an office or restaurant. Dark colours and white shirts are only for special ocasions. Otherwise, choose tones in light blue, gray, or brown. · If you go to Russia during the winter, bring very warm clothes, including hats and gloves. In addition, pack a well-insulated pair of boots with good treads. · Jeans and sneakers can be acceptable casual wear. Conversation General Guidelines Speaking or laughing loudly in public is considered rude, as Russians are generally reserved and somber. Many Russians speak English, as it is often taught beginning in the third grade. Russians are highly literate, and have almost a 100% literacy rate. Good topics of conversation include peace, the current changes taking place in Russia, and their current economic situation. · Usually, your Russian colleagues will be delighted if you make the effort to speak even a few sentences of their language. Nevertheless, if your Russian party speaks your languge, your decision to speak Russian may cause confusion (e.g.--they might think that their English is not good enough). · Russians are sometimes very careful about what they say, and may revert to speaking metaphorically, symbolically, and perhaps even cryptically. Consequently, there is a great deal of reliance on nonverbal communication. At other times, however, they can be extremely frank; it all depends on the situation. · When a Russian touches another person during conversation, it is usually a sign of confidence. · You will sometimes find the Russians to be enthusiastic about discussing politics and the challenges of living in Russia. Participating in this kind of discussion and expressing your views (even if they are opposite) is more welcome than just being an active listener. · Bringing up the subject of Russian culture and history can be an appreciated gesture. Russians are extremely educated--so don't be surprised if they start to talk about the history (more likely than culture) of your own country. Be prepared. · Personal questions are best avoided, although you may be subject to these inquiries. Make the effort to answer these questions as best as you are willing to allow, since your Russian companions may press you for details. · Approach compliments with caution, since they may cause Russians to feel a sense of misplaced obligation. For example, if you are visiting a home and begin enthusiastically admiring a decorative object, your hosts may insist that you take it. · There is tremendous affection for children in this culture; if you are a parent, showing photographs of your children can be an effective way of building good will. · In conversation, it can be permissible to discuss your feelings and hopes for the future. Sometimes, your Russian companions will be far more interested in the personal side of your character than your business agenda. · Talking about art can be complicated for you if you don't know at least background information on world famous Russians such as Tchaikovski, Prokofiev, Tolstoy, Chekov, Pushkin, Malevich, Barishnikov or Plesetskaya. If you become involved in such a conversation, don't be surprised how easily the discussion on Chekov's novels can be changed to Picasso's paintings, Mozart's music or the impact of Yalta Conference in 1943 on the world's history. Russians like to make parallels, find clues and make leads. · If the conversation becomes Greek to you--you can save yourself by asking your Russian friend to fill any gaps in your knowledge on various topics (e.g. the Russian-Japanese issue on Kuril islands, the after effects of Tatar invasion to Russia in the 13th century etc). Welcome Topics of Conversation · the changes taking
place in Russia Topics to Avoid · complaints about
Russia First Name or Title? Addressing others with respect. · Only people who are very intimate friends or relations refer to one another by the first name. · It is perfectly appropriate, when meeting someone, to simply state your family name without any additional greeting. · Ensure that you learn the titles of everyone you plan to encounter, as these distinctions are extremely important in this culture. · Usually, Russians have three names. The first name is a given name, while the last name is the father's family name. The middle name is a version of the father's first name, known as a patronymic; for a man, it ends with the suffixes "vich" or "ovich" meaning "son of." For a woman, the patronymic is also the father's first name but with suffixes "a" or "ova" added, which means "daughter of." When you become well acquainted with a person, you may be invited to refer to him or her by the first name and patronymic. · As a visitor, it is appropriate to refer to your Russian colleague by either "gaspodin" [a courtesy title similar to "Mr."] or "gaspazhah" [similar to "Mrs." or "Miss"] plus his or her surname. When using a person's full name and patronymic, an honorific is unnecessary. · Some names are so common that you will need additional information to identify the correct person. In official circles, Russians use a person's birth date to differentiate between identically named individuals. Moreover, Russians often use prefixes "senior" and "junior" after a name to differentiate between two persons [especially men] that are identically named. · Married women take their husband's last name, but indicate their gender by changing the last letter when it is a vowel [which it almost always is] into an "a." · Some names are so common that you will need additional information to identify the correct person. In official circles, Russians use a person's birth date to differentiate between identically named individuals. · The term "tovarisch", meaning "comrade", is now out of date. It was popular in Communist days, but should no longer be used. Gift Giving Selecting and presenting an appropriate business gift · Generally speaking, Russians take pleasure in giving and receiving gifts. Be sure to bring an assortment of gifts, so that you will always have something appropriate to give. · Cheaper gifts do not have to be wrapped, while more expensive ones should be. · Gifts for children are usually opened in private, while gifts for adults are generally opened in the presence of others. If your gift was a hit, you will hear many 'thank-yous.' · Russians spend a lot of money on gifts. Avoid giving gifts such as pencils, pens, lighters (unless they are expensive ones), cheap wine or vodka, notebooks, etc. · When invited to a Russian home, bring a gift of chocolates, dessert items, good wine, or other alcohol [try to select something other than vodka, which is widely available]. · Bringing a bouquet of flowers (not too expensive though) for women you are visiting (doesn't really matter how many of them are in the family you're visiting) is a good idea. Make sure you have an odd number of flowers. Even numbers usually are for funerals. · Gifts are expected for social events, especially as "thank-yous" for private dinner parties or overnight stays in someone's home. Thank-you notes and holiday cards are not considered appropriate because they have no practical use. · If there are children in the family, it is thoughtful acknowledge them with a small gift, such as a toy or candy. · It is considered bad luck to give a pregnant woman a baby gift until after the baby is born. Selecting Flowers In Russia, flowers are a gift given almost exclusively for women. The only few exceptions would be male teachers, doctors and visiting celebrities. · If you are visiting a family home, it is quite customary to bring along a bouquet of flowers for a wife, sister or mother. These female relatives are likely to be present at the time of your visit. · Pink, cream-coloured, orange, and blue flowers are rarely awarded any special meaning and, thus, are quite acceptable selections. · Avoid yellow flowers [unless you picked them up yourself on a trip to the countryside]. Some white flowers should also be approached with caution. · As in many other countries, flowers are an essentially romantic gift. Red flowers, especially in rich and dark shades, will be perceived as a display of love or strong affection. Appreciated Gifts · wine or other alcohol
[try to select something other than vodka] |