Danish Business Etiquette Tips

Business people looking to establish and grow a presence in new Danish markets will benefit from using proper Danish business etiquette. Being familiar with and practicing proper Danish business etiquette will give you an advantage in dealing with your Danish colleagues.

Keep in mind that Danish communication is direct. When negotiating with Danes, communicating directly will show a respect for Danish business culture. Using proper business etiquette will demonstrate both your respect and knowledge of Danish cultural practices and your aptitude in the business world.

Danish Business Meeting Etiquette

Proper business etiquette for Danish meetings is distinct from that in the United States and in many other European countries. Here are some Danish business etiquette tips to help you appropriately interact with your Danish colleagues:

• Be punctual - If you are going to be more than 5 minutes late, please call.
• Exchange business cards - Your card should have the physical address of your company, not a P.O. Box.
  Go that extra mile and impress your Danish colleagues by getting a Danish translation of all pertinent documents.
• Work from an agenda - send it to the company before the meeting. Do not deviate from the agenda during the meeting.
• Do not expect a lot of small talk - Danes like to get to business quickly. Brief small talk occurs at the beginning of a meeting. If you don't speak Danish, consider hiring a Danish translator or interpreter to demonstrate your professionalism and facilitate communication.
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• Communicate directly - Danes appreciate direct communication. They see it as a way to express sincerity and honesty.
• Shake hands with women first - When entering a meeting, you should shake hands with the women in the room before shaking hands with the men. When you greet someone the first time, shake hands firmly but briefly. Please maintain eye contact.
• Do not draw attention to yourself - Danes strive to be average, and they do not emphasize prestige or status symbols. Career opportunities are based not only on achievements, but also on an individual’s level of modesty and social responsibility.

Other helpful etiquette tips for Danish business meetings include:

• Address your colleagues by title and surname when you meet them. If they do not have a title, use Herr (Mr.) Fru (Mrs) or Froken (Miss). Wait to be invited to use a colleague’s first name.
• Respect Women. Denmark is an egalitarian society. They emphasize social justice and equality for women in the workplace.
• When making a decision in the workplace, Danes consult everyone. Danes also expect to be given the opportunity to share opinions.
• Bring handmade gifts. Expensive gifts embarrass Danes.
• Pronounce your Danish colleagues’ names correctly. If you don’t know the proper pronunciations, find out before the meeting.
• Avoid scheduling meetings in July and August. Danes vacation during these months. Companies will only have a skeleton staff or may even close down. 

Values Honored in Danish Speaking Countries:

• Directness
• Family
• Consensus
• Gender Equality

About Foreign Translations, Inc.

Foreign Translations, Inc., is a 13-year-old foreign language translation, interpreting and website localization firm. With over 3,000 native translators located in over 30 countries, we frequently translate documents that range from 1,000 words to over several million in all the major languages of the world.