Make A Successful Business In Philippines: Do It By Knowing More The Filipinos

When you are planning to have a business in Philippines, you are advised to study first the nature of Filipinos when it comes to trade including some of their practices. If you truly want to ensure success, you vitally need to know how they communicate, the meaning of their simple gestures, and what turns them on and off.

Dealing with the Filipinos is not really tough at all since they are naturally hospitable people. However, you need to know how to relate with them rightly to help you win their full support. This way, you business in Philippines can surely run smoothly and successfully. So, whether you are planning to make a small or big business, Philippines will certainly be a winning location for your trade once you learned the nature of the people here including their customs.

The Filipinos

Generally, Filipinos are hospitable, casual, sensitive, and fun loving. They greatly value personal and family honor as well as pride and dignity. Education here is highly valued so many individuals in this country are well educated. Shame is infused to Filipinos at an early age so to be ashamed is viewed as the greatest form disgrace to Filipinos.

Filipino Greeting When Meeting

Men and women alike shake hands with every person present at a business meeting or even social occasion. Same gesture is showed when saying “good-bye”. Just always remember that when you do your handshakes, it should be friendly and casual, but limp. It is also more proper for men to wait for women to extend their hand.

Filipinos Corporate Culture

The following lists some corporate cultures of Filipinos to help you adjust yourself when facing them during business meetings:

• Filipinos are most often relaxed about time. So meetings and gatherings tend to start late as well. But then, foreigners are expected to be on time.
• A personal introduction by a business associate or mutual friend makes business appointments a lot smoother.
• Establishing a persona relationship is very vital to ensure the success of a business relationship. Loyalty and trust are also very essential to develop relationships. Filipinos are sensitive to insincerity and this can greatly damage the relationship.
• Most often, Filipinos display a “take it or leave it” attitude particularly when it comes to selling prices. They may place less emphasis on the absolute selling price but they can place more of it on unit cost, rounded figures, or percentages.
• Casual conversations may come first before business discussions during meetings.
• Communication is normally indirect, manner is gentle, truth is tactfully presented, and the view of the recipient is constantly being considered. All communication should be maintained courteous despite of its content.
• Most Filipinos find it hard to say “no.” reject, or disagree, especially when someone who is superior is involved. You can know that they disagree when they provide an indirect or ambiguous answer. The purpose of this is not to deceive though; instead, they do it to avoid confrontation.
• Personal meetings are preferred. Written communications might not be immediately answered.
• There are some instances wherein small bribes are used to cut through official procedures. Of course, this is illegal so when this situation arises the decision to participate is yours.

As you will see, it is not really difficult to negotiate with Filipinos. Just be careful to observe their nature and customs and your plan to have a business in Philippines can really run smoothly.