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UK business
Text: Complied by Nisan Danisman from www.executiveplanet.com
The United Kingdom consists of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and has a population of almost 72 million people. Turkey has strong trade relations with the United Kingdom. The UK comes second in the list of countries that import goods from Turkey. Here are some helpful hints on British business culture.
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Tips on making conversation
Most Britons are reserved by nature and often find it difficult to indulge in small talk with a complete stranger. Indeed, there are situations where idle conversation is actually frowned upon, for example when travelling on the London underground.
For the most part, the British speak in low, moderate, measured tones without raising the voice or gesticulating wildly for emphasis. They also like to maintain their own personal space and will shy away from those they find invasive. Britons prefer to avoid animated discussions; if an argument does become heated, it is quite likely to have been fuelled by alcohol and it may be time for you to make your excuses and withdraw.
On the whole, Northerners tend to be more immediately friendly than Southerners. You should not be offended if they address you in apparently familiar terms such as "dear" or "love" (whether you are a man or a woman).
Try to initiate conversation with open questions rather than asserting your point of view. The British are largely tolerant and open-minded but some Britons derive extreme opinions from the tabloid press.
Subjects to avoid include: Northern Ireland, religion (especially if you are in Northern Ireland, Glasgow or Liverpool), the monarchy, the Royal Family, the European Union and the euro.
The immediate use of first names is increasingly prevalent in all walks of British life, but you should always wait to be invited before doing so. Avoid repeating someone's name in the course of a conversation once on first-name terms.
When writing letters, start off formally and continue until your correspondent hints otherwise. Some correspondences may continue formally until the writers meet.
There is a persistent tradition amongst very close (male) friends, who have usually attended the same school or university, of using only their surnames. This practice is not to be emulated. In the absence of a professional title you should always use at least the courtesy titles "Mr", "Mrs", etc.
Tips on making appointments
Punctuality is appreciated but no one really minds if you arrive a little late for a meeting. However, you should aim to arrive a respectable ten minutes after the specified time for social events.
Journeys may take considerably longer than expected. Beware of the M25, the Underground and long-distance rail services. Despite congestion charging in London, there is still a lot of traffic.
Tips on how to dress
The rules are becoming more relaxed but London clubs and smarter hotels and restaurants may still require gentlemen to wear jacket and tie (supplied by the concierge if need be) and ladies not to wear trousers. Weddings and some dinners may be formal. If you have travelled half way round the world to be there, no one will mind if you did not bring morning suit or dinner jacket. It is relatively easy to hire suitable attire; your efforts would be appreciated and you would also feel less out of place.
Men should not put pens in their shirt or jacket breast pockets. They may wear an ornamental silk handkerchief instead. Avoid wearing striped ties as there is a risk that the stripe may "belong" to an institution such as a school, university, club or military regiment of which you are not a member.
Tips on making a deal
It is always desirable to send older, senior representatives for face-to-face discussions. There is an element of distrust of young executives, particularly in the manufacturing and financial sectors. Many senior managers and even executives may have few formal educational qualifications but have worked their way up from the bottom.
Meetings can sometimes appear rather anarchic with little apparent structure or direction. Whilst teamwork is important, the British business culture remains fundamentally hierarchical. The final decision still rests with the most powerful individual--usually the most senior. A proposal stands a better chance of success if it conforms to the way things have been done in the past.
Decision-making can be a slow, deliberate process and rushing or putting pressure on the decision-maker is usually counter-productive. In the end, the British will be open and direct business partners who are not afraid of saying "no".
İngiltere İş yaşamında İngilizler
England UK business
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