Language
For an American company to enter the business sphere in India, verbal communication will not cause any major issues since English is the language spoken by many educated layers of society. In India, English is considered a universally-appropriate language that is politically neutral. Thus, it is very hard to find a business person working in the spheres of the trade who does not know English.
Technology and Business Communication
An unusual approach towards business communication relates to communicating over the phone. In his article “The golden rule for choosing the best forms of business communication in India” Neil Miller explained that the majority of business in India is made over the phone or in face-to-face meetings rather than e-mails or SMS (par. 6).
Keeping Emotions Out and Paying Attention to Hierarchy
In day-to-day communication, Indians seek for every non-verbal sign to pick on what the person is feeling. Thus, if one is to show any type of emotion that is not relevant to business communication, Indians will notice it. It is also possible that emotions will negatively influence the business communication. It is also important to pay attention to the hierarchy that exists in the Indian business sphere (IOR par. 4).
Hard to Say “No”
Because India is an Asian country, it is very hard for its citizens to say ‘no’ when it comes to business relationships. This often leads to a lack of commitment to ongoing business relationships. When communicating, it is useful to regard answers like “We will do that, but it may be very complicated” or “We will try” as negative answers. Such vagueness appears because Indians like to say what they think their business partner wants to hear instead of the rough truth (World Business Culture par. 2).
It will be much more effective to ask very direct questions related to the business process. For example, instead of asking a question “Our set deadline on Wednesday is still ongoing?” it is better to ask “Can you please tell me at which point exactly is our process is currently?” When asking the first question, a person is likely to receive the “Yes” answer because it is what he or she wants to hear. However, the second question is much more direct and calls for a much more complicated answer.
Credibility Established Through Relationships
When it comes to the Indian business etiquette and culture, there is usually no successful business without friendship. Furthermore, the credibility of a business partner is established through relationships. Thus, it is advised to first build trust in a business meeting before getting down to the issue itself.
As in almost all business settings, it is important to keep balance during discussions, avoiding any conflicts and confrontation (RLN East Mainlands 1). Indian businesspeople are usually quite sensitive to “face-saving”, self-respect, and honor; thus, it is crucial not to allow the business partner to “lose” his or her “face”.
No particular training is advised for the company’s employees since all the points mentioned are to be experienced in practice in actual business settings. However, it is important to consider this information and apply it accordingly.
Works Cited
“India Business Technology” n.d. Web.
IOR. India. n.d. Web.
Miller, Neil. The Golden Rule for Choosing the Best Forms of Business Communication in India. 2014. Web.
RLN East Mainlands. India – People, Culture, Communication. A Guide for Business. 2004. Web.
World Business Culture. Indian Communication Style. n.d. Web.