Business Etiquette in India

Indian Core values:

• Future and goal orientation
• Formality and courteousness
• Respect for seniority (age or designation)
• Respect for religious and social traditions
• Diplomacy

Communication:

• English is widely well understood and spoken by all Indian business people and is the chosen language of most business communication
• Men usually greet each other with a light handshake but refrain from shaking a woman’s hand out of respect unless she offers her hand first
• The traditional custom, not commonly used in the business scenario, all over India is the greeting “Namaste” (pronounced “nah-mah-sthay”) which is said while pressing the palms of both hands together under the chin, smiling, and bowing slightly. This is also used when saying goodbye
• Greet women first and then the men in order of seniority both in business and social settings
• Use professional titles or titles linked with former positions, such as military, if the individual has one. Stick to common English titles, "Mr., Mrs., Ms, Dr.", in everyday conversations and meetings unless specified otherwise
• Shaking the head side to side does not mean “no” - Indians use this gesture to indicate that they are listening to what you are saying

Meetings:

• Business cards are usually exchanged at the start of a meeting. These are generally in English and commonly include educational degrees and titles as well
• Carry an adequate supply of business cards to distribute to everybody at the meeting
• Indians are generally not particularly punctual and a meeting time is generally viewed as “flexible” by as much as half an hour. Be prepared for a meeting to start late, but ensure that you arrive on time
• Do not arrange meetings on national holidays or certain festival days that are considered holidays

Gifts:

• Gifts are usually not given in the business context in India although sweets or chocolates from your country of origin are appreciated
• If you are visiting the home of an Indian colleague, then gifts such as flowers, chocolate, perfume, or toys for children are acceptable
• Gifts such as alcohol or non-vegetarian food are acceptable as long as you check beforehand that the receiver drinks alcohol or is non-vegetarian
• Keep in mind traditional sensitivity while gifting — leather goods would be inappropriate for traditional Hindus, while Muslims would find pictures of dogs unacceptable as dogs are considered unclean
• Take care while gift wrapping. Black and white are considered inauspicious colors while colors like red, green and yellow are considered lucky
• It is not customary to open a gift in the presence of the giver. Gifts are usually opened only after the giver has left

Business Attire:

• Varies depending on the type of industry
• A lot of offices have “casual Fridays” when employees can wear jeans, t-shirts
• Indian women generally wear pants and blouses, salwar-kameez or kurtis for business
• You can wear a suit or pants (not tight fitting) and long-sleeved blouses for business or even social occasions such as a wedding
• Skirts and dresses are acceptable too for business and social occasions but avoid high hemlines, low necklines, and sleeveless tops
• It is acceptable for western women to wear traditional Indian attire (such as salwar-kameez) as it is seen as appreciation of Indian culture
• If you choose to wear a saree, do so only for a social occasion such as a wedding or festive celebration

Entertaining:

• Business entertainment is an essential part of doing business in India
• Business-oriented social occasions tend to be held around dinners although people often socialize on Sunday afternoons
• Take into consideration people’s dietary habits; a lot of Indians are vegetarian and avoid alcohol, while others may not, so always enquire beforehand
• Certain Hindu sects never eat onions or garlic
• Hindus, even if they are not vegetarian, generally dislike the thought of eating beef, while Muslims do not eat pork
• Although alcohol is served at most business-oriented social occasions, it is not acceptable to get intoxicated
• Before entering a person’s home, enquire whether you ought to remove and leave your footwear outside as this is a practice in some Indian homes

Women in business:

• There are a growing number of women in every business industry
• A lot of women are in high-level managerial positions
• Men and women should be treated equally in work environments; sexual harassment is a serious offense

What to Avoid:

Topics of conversation to avoid:

• Poverty and the standard of living in India
• Religion and conflicts between religious groups in India
• Human rights in India
• Government and politics
• Condescending comparisons between your country and India which can be perceived as arrogance
• The imposition of Hindi, predominantly spoken in North India, as a national language — this is a sensitive issue in South India

Gestures to avoid:

• Standing and facing someone with your hands on your hips — this is considered a stance of anger
• Winking at persons of the opposite sex as this can be considered flirtatious
• Using your left hand to offer anything to someone or to take something. The left hand was traditionally considered unclean, and although this practice is no longer observed as commonly as it was in traditional India, it is safest to use your right hand
• Pointing the soles of your feet at another person, placing your feet or shoes on desks or books