State the topic you wish to address, why you want to meet, and the participants you desire to meet
If you want quick decisions, it will be necessary to ensure that decision-makers are invited to participate
In case you cannot participate, always call or write to cancel the meeting in advance
Always agree with your partner on the language of the meeting
Sometimes a colleague of your partner may be able to translate. If they do not know your business, take with you some supporting material
Pay attention when your partner pronounces their name
Business cards are usually exchanged at the beginning of a meeting
Hungarian business cards contain all the necessary business information, and occasionally personal details
Maintaining direct eye contact is when being spoken to is crucial
Hungarians usually begin their meetings with some small talk
Agendas are not necessarily adhered to and instead, spontaneity is often a driving force
Meetings can tend to run late, as Hungarians like telling jokes and debates are always taken seriously
If the meeting is conducted in English, Hungarians may say some things between themselves in Hungarian, to make sure they all have a common understanding of the discussion
When presenting a project, do your research because you need to give good reasons and arguments
If you want to convince Hungarian managers, you will need to prove your ability for reflective thinking
Be prepared to answer many questions
Often, especially with a large delegation of attendees, decisions will not be made on the spot
Decisions are usually made when management has had the time to reflect and discuss
Try to arrive about ten minutes before your scheduled meeting time
Shake hands with all the participants.
International companies will usually have their business cards in two languages, Hungarian and English