September 4th, 2009
Filipino Business Practices
Doing business in the Philippines requires different forms of etiquette and behaviour than you may be used to in your own country. However, if you would like to ensure that you would have an experience that is both successful and enjoyable, then it is important for you to learn about the social niceties that would help you in dealing with Filipinos in a business setting.
Interpersonal relationships are crucial in the business world. You would need to develop friendly and personal relations with colleagues and associates so that you can build a network of individuals whom you can ask for assistance at a future date. So do not be surprised if a co-worker asks you for a favour and keep in mind that you can ask for favours yourself.
When setting up an appointment, make sure that you call and schedule it at least three weeks in advance and always call up a few days before the arranged date and time to reconfirm the meeting. Punctuality is important and expected from foreigners, so show up exactly when you are expected to be there. Filipinos, in turn, might be late for a few minutes, but once they see that you are punctual, they will take pains to prevent any delays in future meetings. Face-to-face encounters are preferred over impersonal communications like emails and faxes, so take the opportunity to talk with the other party and establish a relationship.
Filipinos rarely come right out and state something directly, so be prepared to deal with polite evasions instead of bald refusals in case your proposals or ideas are not acceptable. However, continue conversing until you get the answers or resolutions that you can work with.
