Italian Business Etiquette

Business people looking to establish themselves in Italian business markets will likely benefit greatly from understanding and practicing proper Italian business etiquette. A comprehensive understanding of Italian business etiquette will allow you to effectively negotiate with your Italian colleagues. In turn, this can help you grow your business and foster lasting international business relationships.
 
Practicing proper etiquette is essential in the Italian business world. Business etiquette in the United States is quite different than Italian business etiquette. Therefore, before conducting business in Italy, you will want to familiarize yourself with Italian business meeting etiquette, particularly since many Italians place great value in first impressions. By demonstrating your knowledge of Italian culture, you will likely impress your colleagues and effectively show your proficiency in the international business world.

The Role of Italian Culture in Proper Italian Business Etiquette

The rules of Italian business etiquette are shaped by traditional Italian values. Values that Italians honor include:
  • compassion
  • conviction
  • decorum
  • loyalty
  • individualityrespect for authority.
These traditional Italian values translate directly into the business world. Some helpful etiquette tips for Italian business meetings include:
  • Be descriptive and demonstrative in conversation. Your Italian colleagues will likely be effusive and demonstrative when they talk, and will likely appreciate enthusiasm in your own communications.
  • If you are not fluent in Italian, hire an interpreter for your meetings. An interpreter will help facilitate discussions and make communication easier for the both of you.
  • If at all possible, get a third party introduction to potential colleagues. Italians appreciate personal connections when doing business.

  • Wear a few elegant accessories to business meetings. A subtle display of wealth or success will likely be noticed and appreciated by Italians.

Italian Business Meeting Etiquette

Proper Italian business meeting etiquette differs from that of other European countries, and is often decidedly more formal. Some Italian business etiquette tips that will help you appropriately interact with your foreign colleagues include:
  • Don’t put your Italian colleagues under pressure to make a decision. Decisions are often not made during business meetings. According to business meeting etiquette in Italy, meetings are times for each party to air his or her ideas and/or issues – not the time to make definitive decisions. Important business decisions may take longer than you expect.
  • Follow through with any verbal commitments, as failing to stick to a verbally agreed-upon decision can cost you credibility and even the business relationship. Italians highly value a person’s word.
  • Have all important business documents translated into Italian. Meeting agendas, contracts and other business documents should be circulated in both English and Italian translations.
  • Schedule appointments far in advance, and always confirm appointments. Business appointments should be requested in Italian, in writing, at least two weeks in advance. Regardless of whether your colleague speaks English, translating your appointment request into Italian is considered courteous. Additionally, some Italian business people may speak but not read English.

Italian business people also expect that you reconfirm any scheduled business meeting with a follow-up call, fax or e-mail. As with the original meeting request, be sure to follow-up in Italian.

Business Etiquette Tips : Specific Regions of Italy

Along with the above-listed values, some Italian regions have their own unique etiquette practices. Here is a look at proper business etiquette specific to certain Italian regions:
  • Italy: Italian translations of any business cards are essential to any business meeting in Italy. In addition, carrying a "social card" for non-business interactions is also important. A "social card" is slightly larger than a business card and includes your name, phone number, title(s) and academic degree(s). This, too, should either be in Italian, or have an Italian translation on the flip side of the card.
  • Vatican City: Providing Italian translations of meeting agendas is essential to business dealings in Vatican City. However, you should not consider your agenda to be rigid, as Vatican business etiquette considers agendas to be springboards for further conversation.