Business in Italy
The country has a developed economy and is famous for its leather goods, cars, industry, food and fashion. Business in Italy has its own customs. Most Italians build business relationships with acquaintances and close people.
Punctuality cannot be called the hallmark of Italian businessmen. As a rule, Italians come to meetings 5-10 minutes later. Business cards can only be exchanged during a business meeting. By offering your business card to a businessman somewhere at a social event, you show your bad manners and ignorance of etiquette.
Business partners most often greet each other with handshakes (regardless of gender and age). Negotiations with businessmen of the boot country in most cases are slow. Don’t expect your Italian partner to make a decision right away and take action soon.
Most likely, you will hold several meetings during which a balanced and thoughtful decision will be made. Of course, many tourists are eager to get to know the country better and find out what real Italy looks like.
The traditions and customs of the state listed in our article will help you find a common language with the locals, and perhaps strike up a real friendship with some friendly Italian family.
Italian business etiquette
Italy is a country living in deep harmony.
Here, bureaucracy and evasion of duties, opportunism and anarchy, wealth and poverty, deep religiosity and high-profile scandals coexist perfectly. But despite this, the Italian economy is one of the largest in the world; Italians have something to boast about in manufacturing, the automotive industry, culinary and fashion.
The driving force behind Italian success has always been the institution of the family, a belief in which is very strong in Italy. Loyalty to family and close friends, the desire for mutual understanding and patience, according to Italians, can always resolve any contradictions.
Italians are very resourceful people.
Energetic, responsive, often use a creative approach in their work. However, the main sign of leadership is not the ability of a person to make decisions, as is customary in most countries, but his position in society, in power. Authoritarianism and imperiousness are the main characteristics of the Italian management style.
They are widespread in family firms
the most popular economic model in the country. The person with the most authority is most likely the person who is simply the most trusted by the owner of the firm, regardless of their skill level. Such a personalized management system in Italy implies a personal assessment of the work of each employee, and not a department or management of the company as a whole.
Although all decisions are made exclusively by the leader, nevertheless, they are expected to have a human attitude, interest in their team. According to the Italians, a leader must be a charismatic person, persistent, reliable, but at the same time attractive, creative and, most importantly, humane.
In business, Italians often make decisions based on intuition, backed up by various consultations. Personal relationships and personal connections can play a larger role than profit numbers and economic advantages, and risk and opportunity take precedence over sequential planning. That is why Italians in business prefer reliable short-term profits, and do not strive to build a long-term strategy.
Italians are talkers.
Their eloquence, and especially expressive gestures, are known throughout the world. But, in business conversations, one should be wary of their fiery speeches, since most often they contain more rhetoric and ideas than real facts. An Italian can be very friendly, but at the same time evading direct answers.
Italians consider establishing a good relationship to be a story about themselves, their family and their successes.
Vivid expressions, manifestations of feelings, responsiveness, confidential tone and attention to the personal problems of the interlocutor are perceived as the norm. Italians almost always find a way to overcome disagreements in any business, as they are big fans of compliance and tolerance.