Vive La Difference! Doing Business In Paris

By Author: Emily Taylor
Total Articles: 16
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The novice business traveller should always take time to familiarise himself with the business etiquette of new locations when planning a trip, to avoid those risky faux pas that could jeopardise a fledgling relationship. The two capitals are only 135 minutes apart by Eurostar, but the practical differences in corporate culture between Paris and London can often be significant.

French protocols for dress, meetings and even products differ from the UK and should be observed to ensure you offer the best impression. Tim Giles of Argyll Business Centres has spent part of every week for the past two years working in Paris, setting up two new boutique serviced offices in the prestigious Etoile district. Tim explains:

My main role in France was to import our Argyll serviced office format to Paris - in itself a straightforward brief. Our product is all about combining high quality with traditional style, which is ideal for the French market, but we did need to tailor our product slightly. For example, green is often considered an unlucky colour and is rarely used in buildings, so we decided not to use the traditional green ...
... carpets found throughout our centres in London.

In this case taking into account a simple design alteration, ensured Tim's product was in the best possible position to succeed in a competitive environment. Yet, it is managing business relations themselves which is the real key. Tim caught on to how the French like to do business very quickly:

Working in France I soon learned that face-to-face meetings or phone calls are preferable to emails and that business meetings are often run in a more formal and autocratic way than in the UK, which could be daunting if you are unprepared.

Once I had earned the trust of my contacts, I found the people incredibly warm and generous with a wonderful appreciation of quality and style. People take pride in their appearance and their surroundings, so well tailored business clothes are essential for meetings.

Aesthetic considerations aside, Tim has other hints and tips for the wary business traveller:

* Most senior business professionals in Paris can speak English, but a visitor from London should not assume that a meeting will be conducted in their language as a matter of course. If you do not possess French language skills, take the time to learn some simple phrases and apologise for not speaking French when the meeting begins.
* Meetings often take place over a meal and it is sometimes a preferred option - lunchtime is a popular choice.
* Do not expect matters to be brought to a neat conclusion during a meeting, as they can run for a long time and are used to debate rather than to agree formal action points.

There is no doubt that regional nuances are being diluted by globalisation, but by observing these handy hints a novice can demonstrate their appreciation of their hosts culture, which can ultimately lead to a good foundation for future relations.