Shaking hands is accepted but not necessary
The typical business language is English, so do bring material in that language and make sure that PowerPoint Slides are properly translated as well
You would typically exchange your greetings and perhaps your name card
Eye contact is usually brief and longer stares are to be avoided as a rule of thumb
Managers tend to be older which in itself lends them an air of authority
Age still implies wisdom and people will be more comfortable dealing with an older manager than a young one
Be well prepared and establish expectation levels at the start
Do not be surprised if your counterparts are running a tape recorder as well
Managers delegate decisions to their teams and expect the decisions to be overtly respected
It is important that meetings should remain as harmonious and non-confrontational as possible
Bear in mind that the quality of the relationship, is the key determinant of a successful and mutually fruitful partnership
Never toss your card across the meeting table as you would deal cards,That is seen as very rude
Do study the cards you received carefully to show respect
Never scribble notes on the cards you have received
Conversation is mostly business focused with food, weather, and the state of the world economy
It is often a clever idea to let any sticking points drop, returning to them later through another approach
Respect should be given to the hierarchy during the meeting
Do not leave your junior members to deal with their senior team whilst you attend to something more important
Punctuality is crucial, as lateness implies a lack of respect
There are four languages in common usage – Malay, Mandarin Chinese, Tamil and English
As in many Asian cultures, ‘no’ is a difficult word and other ways of expressing disagreement should be sought
Business cards are exchanged very formally and offered with both hands
Compliments are rarely given unless the meeting partners know each other very well
For meetings, ask where you should sit or wait to be seated