The behavior of the Chinese people when conducting business is greatly influenced by their culture. The Chinese believe in the creation of harmony among the people so as to create the smooth functioning of the society (Chan, 2012). Business is, therefore, conducted in a harmonious way. The creation of harmony among the people conducting business together is referred to as Confucianism. The behavior of the Chinese in business consists of conflict avoidance, preservation of face, and maintenance of good behavior (Kwintessential, 2014).
Preservation of face means behaving in a manner that will give the business a good reputation. The Chinese believe in carrying out a business in a respectable manner. The face of the business can be lost by publicizing the wrong acts of the business. Conducting the wrong actions does not cause the business to lose face, but rather exposing those actions to the public is what makes the business lose face (Chan, 2012). The Chinese give face to the business through respect and compliments. The face of the business is also preserved if the business has been there for a long time. The Chinese believe that age and experience translates to wisdom. They will feel more comfortable relating to a business that has existed for a long time. The face of the business is also improved when the customers compliment the business to third parties. The behavior of the Chinese when conducting business focuses on giving face, saving face, and showing face (Kwintessential, 2014).
The Chinese start their businesses by greeting people. They greet people by shaking hands and nodding their heads slightly. The shaking of hands is gentle, because they believe that shaking hands in a vigorous manner signifies aggression (Kwintessential, 2014). Their culture dictates to them to avoid conflicts and aggression. Therefore, they have to show gentleness in their behavior.
Physical contact is not encouraged by the culture of the Chinese people. During the conduction of business, physical contact should be avoided. The Chinese behavior in business does not involve patting, slapping, or holding people’s shoulders (Williams, 2012). People are also supposed to exhibit self-control. The Chinese people maintain a formal body posture and remain attentive. Self-control is important because it earns respect for a person.
The behavior of the Chinese is very formal when it comes to business relationships. They prefer to maintain professionalism, and avoid any informal behavior. The Chinese people do not like humor in business. They like addressing issues without wasting any time. They do well in business because of avoiding unnecessary distractions.
The Chinese believe in exchange of gifts when celebrating the success of the business. Gifts symbolize appreciation of the other business party for the assistance rendered. The Chinese exchange gifts only when there is a valid reason for the exchange. They also involve a witness during the exchange of gifts (Williams, 2012). They also ask the other person about their preferences of gifts. The business gifts are seen as debts, and the Chinese have to reciprocate the gesture.
Business meetings are always made early, and are arranged while taking into consideration the national holidays. The Chinese people are very punctual when conducting business. Lateness is considered an insult to the other person (Kwintessential, 2014). The Chinese people avoid politics when it comes to business. They also prefer to start with the major issues, and work their way down to the minor issues. They are tough negotiators, and aim at concessions. The Chinese are known to be very patient when conducting business. They also avoid showing frustration or anger.
Works Cited
Kwintessential. Doing Business in China. 2014. Retrieved from: http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/etiquette/doing-business-china.html
Williams De’Edra. China Business Etiquette, Culture, and Manners. 2012. Retrieved from: http://www.cyborlink.com/besite/china.htm
Chan James. What to do and How to Behave in China: 18 Practical Tips. 2012. Retrieved from: http://www.asiamarketingmanagement.com/howtobehaveinchina.html
