Business Contexts

 

    The business protocol and practices for Finnish culture would have to base strongly on punctuality. It is recommended to always be on time when practicing business in Finland because it is seen as incredibly disrespectful. According to Suranaree University of Technology, “Finns take punctuality for business meetings very seriously and expect that you will do likewise; call if you will be more than five minutes late.” In a business setting respect should always be at a maximum since you are trying to negotiate and work together. When actually communicating in a business setting, oftentimes Finns like to skip all of the small talk and get directly to the point. In many cultures this could make you seen as an angry person, but for the Finnish it is just associated with business. When introducing yourself in these scenarios, you state your name alongside the company that you are working for. Once that is stated, they skip all small talk and get straight to business. The dress code they abide by is very simple, most commonly being business casual. They focus on minimal design and basic clothing, but more on the actual quality of the brand. They also may dress in many heavy layers depending how extreme the winter is. 

Gift giving is not commonly practiced in business settings, but they still provide gifts around the holidays occasionally. It is generally thought that you don’t need to provide a gift back to the person and it usually being something smaller like local Finnish products or a pen and notebook. 

Three potential communication challenges for an American in Finnish business would be how little small talk Finns need. They can seem almost mean to Americans, but they really just want to get straight to the point. Another communication challenge that might provide some misinterpretation for the American would be their use of silence. Silence is respected and will always be used when needed. The last potential communication challenge would be that it is not just the C.E.O making the big decisions, but rather everyone collectively as a whole. This doesn’t always happen in America, so they might not be familiar. 

If I were to receive a new employee from Finland I honestly wouldn’t spend too much trying to know them, but rather get straight to the point. This is what they are used to in business settings and I wouldn’t want it to be a crazy culture shock. I would also put the person in some sort of position where they can collaborate and work with others.