Japanese Corporate Culture – Communication Etiquette
Communication Etiquette in Japanese Business Settings
At the negotiating table, Japanese corporate culture demanded a relatively specific and rigid business protocol that’s expected to be followed by both domestic business partners and foreign or expatriate partners from abroad. The communication etiquette followed the idea of tatemae, or surface communication, where the gang of businesspeople engages in pleasantries and small talk.
Another concept utilized in business meetings and at the negotiating table was those of under-communication, where the fellow Japanese business owners were generally at ease with less talk.
Tatemae also gives testimony on the aesthetic aspects of social behavior. For instance, the Japanese people often examine the external appearance and exactly how one expresses his or herself being an utmost important manifestation of that each. There can also be a ritual of exchanging pleasantries and preserving group harmony.
Remember, in Japan, there is a strong increased exposure of collectivism when the group needs are placed at a higher level of importance than those of one’s individual needs. In short, thinking about Japanese business communication etiquette is to work hard on the underlying business agenda.
Another manifestation of tatemae is those of meishi. Meishi is the exchange of business cards. Unlike …
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