Business Etiquette in Brazil

Next time you head to Brazil on a business trip, be sure that you are following the proper business etiquette for their country. Business etiquette varies greatly from country to country, so knowing how to present yourself and what is expected of you is very important. You can permanently damage or end business relationships by being disrespectful or offensive by mistake.

It is common for Brazilians to not arrive on time for a business meeting. You can arrive to the meeting late, even by more than fifteen minutes, and still not be considered rude. However, as a visitor to their country you should never arrive later than those Brazilians you are meeting. Arriving on time is a safer choice rather than risking being later than those you are meeting. Just expect to have to wait a bit for everyone to show up for any meetings you have planned.

When first meeting someone, you should keep eye contact and shake their hand. After initial introductions, shaking hands is no longer necessary next time you greet the person. Many Brazilians actually will greet others with a slight hug and pat on the back between two men. You should continue to shake everyone's hand when you say goodbye even after your first meeting.

Always use a person's title when addressing them. Do not call someone by just their first name unless you are instructed to do so. Never begin speaking Spanish to people while in Brazil. They can find this insulting, since Portuguese is the national language of Brazil.

Be sure to maintain eye contact while conversing with people. Brazilians like to stand very close to one another when talking, so don't be surprised if people have a small area of personal space. You should talk close to them as well so as not to appear disrespectful; backing away to create more personal space will seem rude.

IPS, "Professional Travel in Brazil," University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana.