Doing Business in India

Like many other people, you have decided to move to India to further your career.
IntlMOVE (www.IntlMOVE.com) can help make your transition to your new home in India a success by handling the specific details involved in an international move.
Each IntlMOVE client has a move consultant who knows the details of your international moving needs and will be with you every step of the process.
Your move consultant will be there to answer questions, coordinate the move and communicate all of the specifics you will need to know.
Let the experts at IntlMOVE handle the shipment of your personal belongings to India, so you can enjoy learning about your new country’s culture.  

When doing business in India, you will want to be aware of different cultural norms and business etiquette practices.
Although Hindi is the official language of India, most business meetings and communications are conducted in English.

Business Meetings
Punctuality is important, so plan to arrive to all meetings in a timely fashion.
Family concerns always take precedence over business matters, so cancellations might happen.
When arriving at a meeting, always approach the most senior member first.
Expect to engage in small talk and idle conversation before the meeting begins, but avoid personal topics.
Indians are much more comfortable conducting business with people who are trustworthy, so take your time and build relationships.
Americans tend to be very direct, but this is not the case in the Indian culture.
Indians do business on feelings as well as taking empirical data into consideration.
Be patient, as negotiations can sometimes be slow.
If you use hard sales tactics or come off as aggressive, you will not likely close the deal.
If a director is not present be aware that you are likely in the early stages of negotiation.
In business meetings, you might find that your Indian associates are not willing to speak up in meetings.
They will often save their questions for when the meeting is adjourned as many find public speaking difficult. 
If you are attending a business or social dinner, be sure to only use your right hand to eat as the left hand is only used for bodily hygiene.

Social Norms
The social caste system is planted deep in the roots of India, so hierarchies play a large role in business practices.
Employees may not be used to chipping in where help is needed if it does not fit their job description or if the task is seen as below their status.
There is great importance placed on business cards and these are always exchanged with the right hand in the first meeting.
Also make sure the business cards you receive are handled considerately rather than shoved into your back pocket.
Indians do not want to come off as disrespectful, so they will often address you with a title of “Mr.” or “Ms.” before you name.
Offer the same respect to your Indian business associates.
The younger generations are more accepting of addressing people by their first names, but it is best to follow the lead of your business counterpart so you do not come off as rude or offensive.
In India, members of the opposite sex are rarely seen touching in public even if it only a handshake when being introduced.
Although this form of a greeting is becoming more widely accepted in larger cities, causal touch is still too close for comfort for many traditional Indians.
A nod of the head or a smile often indicates a please or a thank you.
Don’t take this as being rude, but it is just a more subtle way to be polite. 

Holidays and Days off of Work
Weddings are grand events celebrated by the Indian culture and some weddings can last days.
Family is very important, so the guest list includes the extended family.
It is common for distant relatives to find it extremely important that they are in attendance for the whole celebration.
In traditional Indian homes, aging parents often are supported by their younger sons.
If an older parent is in need of medical attention, the employer is expected to be understanding because it is the son’s responsibility to attend to his family. 
There are several religions practiced in India, each with their own set of holidays.
There are a few that are recognized as national holidays when businesses are usually shut down, but many holidays go unobserved.
However, employers should be respectful of employees who will ask for vacation time around these events.
Be patient and soon enough you will learn the local customs and social norms.
If you are ever in doubt, ask questions or follow the lead of other locals or more seasoned expats.
Learning a new culture will take time, but the rewards of conducting business in India can be great if you are willing to put in the effort.