Brazil Business Etiquette

Appearance   Three-piece suits carry an "executive" connotation, whereas two-piece suits are associated with office workers. Conservative attire for women in business is very important. Also make sure your nails are manicured   The colors of the Brazilian flag are yellow and green. Avoid wearing this combination in any fashion   Touching arms and elbows and backs very common   The O. K. hand signal a rude gesture in Brazil   To express appreciation, a Brazilian may appear to pinch his earlobe between thumb and forefinger   To invoke good luck, place your thumb between your index an middle finders while making a fist. This is also known as the "fig"   Flicking the fingertips underneath the chin indicates that you do not know the answer to a question

Behavior   Make appointments at least two weeks in advance. Never try to make impromptu calls at business or government offices  Be prepared to commit long term resources (both in time and money) toward establishing strong relationships in Brazil. This is the key to business success  Some regions have a casualness about both time and work. However San Paulo is not one of those, and in Rio casual refers to the personal and social events, not business. In these two cities, business meetings tend to start on time  Never start into business discussions before your host does. Business meetings normally begin with casual 'chatting' first  Midday the normal time for the main meal. A light meal is common at night, unless entertaining formally  American coffee is a mere shadow of Brazilian coffee. Expect to be served small cups of very strong coffee  In Brazil, restaurant entertainment prevails versus at home  If entertained in the home, it is polite to send flowers to the hostess the next day, with a thank-you note  Giving a gift is not required at a first business meeting; instead buy lunch or dinner  Purple flowers are extensively used at funerals, so be cautious when giving someone purple flowers. Violets are OK to give  Toast: Saude or Viva (Sah-OO-Day, VEE-va)  Tipping is typically 10% in Brazil  If you here the term jeito - it refers to the idea that nothing is set in stone, that a good attempt can break a rule

Communications   Handshaking, often for a long time, is common. Shake hands for hello and goodbye; use good eye contact; when leaving a small group, be sure to shake hands with everyone present  When women meet, they exchange kisses by placing their cheeks together and kissing the air  First names used often, but titles important  Music and long, animated conversation are favorite Brazilian habits. When conversing, interruptions viewed as enthusiasm. Brazilians enjoy joking, informality, and friendships  Portuguese is the language of Brazil  Good conversation topics: soccer, family, and children  Bad conversation topics: Argentina, politics, poverty, religion, and the Rain Forest  Stay away from phases such as, "Is it true that everyone in Brazil is either very rich or very poor?" It is very likely you will be talking with someone that isn't either one

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