ETHIOPIA UNDERSTANDING & CONDUCTING BUSINESS IN ETHIOPIA 108 VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS Indirect Communications Communications are typically polite and understated - it is considered correct to be indirect and nonconfrontational when stating points. BILLION GDP in USD, 2020 Refusals Ethiopia is a fast growing economy with great potential It is impolite to directly say “no” to a request, so many will agree to something or give an unsettled final answer when they do not want to. Gratitude Ethiopia has a high cultural context a more intuitive and implicit culture more nonverbal communications highly collectivist culture family-owned businesses is common a strong focus on relationshipbuilding and social understanding Gratitude is typically said as a kind of blessing, for example: “God bless you for working with me.” NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS Listener-oriented It is important to listen while others speak to you as Ethiopians value indirect verbal communication and read nonverbal expressions. Physical Contact It is common for people of the same gender to touch one another (on the arm, etc.) while speaking. But contact between the genders is limited. Eye Contact Enjoy your coffee! Coffee is the national drink and symbol of Ethiopia. Ready to drink a lot of it in your meetings! VISIBLE CULTURAL ASPECTS There is a large focus in Ethiopia on religion. Approximately two-thirds of people identify as Christian and one-third identify as Muslim. Hence, Ethiopia contains over 80 different ethnic groups. Therefore, cultural practices will vary further based on region, especially in rural areas where 80% of Ethiopian people live in. Ethiopia operates on its own calendar. It is approximately seven years behind the calendar used in Western countries and begins on September 11th. Also, Ethiopia operates on a different 12-hour time system, a day cycle begins at dawn and ends at dusk, and a night time cycle begins at dusk and ends at dawn. For example, "3 in the morning" is approximately 9am GMT+3, "6 in the evening" is approximately 12am GMT+3. Be aware of this time difference when scheduling meetings so it is important to confirm times to avoid confusion. Direct eye contact is considered normal. Lowering your eye contact may be reserved for someone of high status or an elder. INVISIBLE CULTURAL ASPECTS “Yilugnta” is a concept that exists within Ethiopian culture and encourages people to be hospitable, selfless, inclusive, and cooperative with others. For both Christians and Muslims, many believe life events are predetermined or altered by God. The Ethiopian “pace of life” is generally slower, and people are known to take their time when conducting business. Be patient if things last longer than expected. POSSIBLE AREAS FOR MISUNDERSTANDING & CONFLICT When being offered something, it is expected to politely decline before accepting the second or third offer. Pointing is generally considered rude, especially with one’s left hand. You should also avoid using left hand to receive or pass items and food. Visiting someone's house is considered important to building relationships and it is expected to bring a gift when visiting someone's home for the first time. REFERENCES Baker, C., & Campbell, M. (2016). Context Matters: An Ethiopian Case Study Adapting Leadership Development Methods to Serve Different Cultures. Centre For Creative Leadership. https://www.ccl.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/ContextMatters.pdf Evason, N. (2018). Ethiopian Culture. The Cultural Atlas. https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/ethiopian-culture