Turkish Business Etiquette Tips

Business people looking to establish and grow a presence in new Turkish markets will benefit greatly from practicing proper Turkish business etiquette. Being familiar with and practicing this etiquette will give you an advantage when working with your Turkish colleagues.

Remember that Turks respect age, as it is a sign of wisdom. They also respect rank and education. Always pay proper respect to senior members of a company. By demonstrating proficiency in Turkish business etiquette, you will impress your colleagues and demonstrate your aptitude in the business world.

Turkish Business Meeting Etiquette

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

• Build Relationships - Turks like to do business with people they know. Relationships are built over meals. Expect small talk at the beginning of a meeting. This gives your Turkish colleagues a chance to get to know you. Often a first meeting will be spent simply allowing you and your Turkish colleagues to become familiar with each other.
• Be punctual - Turks expect foreigners to be on time to business meetings. Call if you are going to be late. Do not expect your Turkish colleagues to be punctual. Expect to wait if you arrive for a meeting on time.
• Dress conservatively - Men and women should wear suits. In the summer, you can avoid wearing the jacket and the tie as the weather is hot and humid. Outside of large cities and especially in Eastern Turkey, dress even more conservatively. Women should cover their arms and legs. Men should wear long pants.
• Use titles - Address your Turkish colleagues by title---not title and surname--- if applicable. This includes not only professors or doctors but also lawyers, engineers and managers. When you greet a Turkish colleague, greet him or her by first name, and then add “bey” (pronounced like “bay”) for men and “hanim” (pronounced “ha-num”) for women. If you don't speak Turkish, consider hiring a Turkish translator or interpreter to demonstrate your professionalism and facilitate communication.
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• Be prepared for slow decision making - You will meet with lower ranking members of a company first, to prove that you are trustworthy. Then you will meet the senior members of the company. The most senior member of a company always makes the decisions.

Other helpful etiquette tips for Turkish business meetings include:

• Do not schedule meetings during Ramazan (known in other Muslim countries at Ramadan). This is a month of fasting. Please do not schedule meetings from June-August. Many Turks are away on vacation during this time to spend more time with families.
• Please use both hands when exchanging business cards. Print one side in Turkish and one in English. Please have all printed materials available in Turkish and English. Go that extra mile and impress your Turkish colleagues by getting a Turkish translation of all pertinent documents.
• Upon initial meeting, shake hands with everyone in the room. Please wait for a woman to offer her hand. Greet the most senior member of the company first.
• Islam dictates that a person should pray five times a day. Educate yourself on the timings of these prayers and schedule your meetings around them.
• If you go out to a restaurant with a Turkish colleague, the host always pays the bill. Turks do not split bills. You will be refused if you offer to pay. To reciprocate, offer to host your Turkish colleague at another time.

Values Honored in Turkish Speaking Countries Include:

• Respect for Elders
• Family
• Islam

About Foreign Translations, Inc.

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