Brazilian Business Etiquette

While adhering to proper etiquette is always considered polite in social situations, when it comes to business transactions, displaying proper etiquette is vital, as a single mistake or impropriety can cost you money and obstruct potential new business relationships.

Taking the time to learn proper Brazilian business etiquette will facilitate business transactions and avoid cultural misunderstandings, ensuring the success of your business with new clients and colleagues.

Proper Brazilian Business Meeting Etiquette

Brazilians especially value personal contact and face-to-face meetings. Some general Brazilian etiquette tips include the following:
 

• Be Introduced. An introduction by a mutual acquaintance will help Brazilians feel comfortable with you, easing the way for conducting business.
• Socialize! Take a few minutes for small talk before discussing business. Your Brazilian hosts will want to get to know you a bit before discussing anything work-related.
• Avoid Confrontation. Brazil is a group culture where an insult to one is an insult to all. Criticizing an individual causes both that person and the criticizer to lose face.
• Dress Well. Brazilians are fashion conscious, so dress conservatively for business functions. Women should wear feminine dresses and suits, while men should wear dark suits. Three-piece suits indicate an executive-level status.
• Prepare for informality. Despite the dress, business meetings are relatively casual. It is acceptable to interrupt the speaker with something to say that will add to their opinion. This informality doesn’t extend to people in positions of authority.
• Don’t be flustered if you’re kept waiting. Brazilians place a higher priority on maintaining relationships than on keeping to a strict schedule. You should still be punctual yourself even if they are not.
• Expect close quarters. Brazilians might stand closer to you during conversations than you are used to, or they may touch your arm or back. Drawing away from this intimacy can be interpreted as insincerity.

Other helpful business etiquette tips include:

• Exchange business cards during introductions. As an added gesture of your good taste, include a Portuguese translation of your business card on its flipside.
• Schedule meetings at least two weeks ahead and confirm them in writing. It is not uncommon for appointments to be canceled or changed at the last minute.

Communications Tips in Brazil

• Good conversation topics include soccer (football), the beach, family, children, and Brazil’s growth as a country. Choose the correct Portuguese dialect.
• Bad conversation topics include Argentina, politics, religion, poverty, the rainforest, and Brazil’s class system.
• Shake hands with everyone, but don’t be surprised if you are greeted with a kiss on the cheek in subsequent meetings.
• In Brazil, the “Okay” hand signal is a rude gesture!
• Consider hiring a Portuguese translator to aid in drafting contracts.
• Do you need Bilingual Portuguese Professionals for your Company? Visit Foreign Staffing, Inc

Business Etiquette Tips Specific to Different Portuguese-Speaking Countries

Aside from the above aspects of Brazilian business etiquette, some Portuguese-speaking countries have their own unique nuances to the more general practices. Here is an outline of proper business etiquette specific to particular Portuguese-speaking countries: 

• Portugal: The Portuguese consider arriving five minutes late to a meeting to be normal, and arriving early to be worrisome. Don’t be surprised if a deadline passes by or an oral promise is forgotten; the Portuguese view these things more casually than people in other cultures.
• Mozambique: January is the main month for holidays, so avoid scheduling business trips during this period. Wear a lightweight suit and make prior appointments. Many people only speak Portuguese, so hiring a Portuguese interpreter is normally a necessity for conducting business.
• Angola: Angolans usually use the first meeting to decide if they want to do business with someone. Agendas, and even private meeting rooms, are optional. Direct eye contact is used for someone at your own level, while indirect eye contact demonstrates respect for those senior to you.
• Macau: Business cards are essential in Macau, so carry a large number of them with you. Appointments should be made in advance and kept punctually.

Read more about the history of the Portuguese language.