Mixing Business and Pleasure
Gone are the days when business was only carried out in offices and conference rooms.
Now people mix business and pleasure in a range of setting. But what are the rules of
business and pleasure in an international context? Here’s a brief guide.
China – In common with other Asian business cultures, the Chinese are keen on
lavish business entertaining. Large evening meals are very much on the agenda here. Expect
your host to order enough to feed twelve people for a party of six. The meal will probably
also consist of several courses, so it’s a good idea to pace yourself and not eat too much
early in the meal. That said, good manners require you to leave lots of the food uneaten:
finishing off your food will send the insulting signal that your host has not ordered enough
to satisfy your hunger.
Japan – If you’re doing business here, you can expect to be lavishly entertained
after office hours by your host, who will pick up the bill for food and drinks. In the evenings,
business is pretty much off the agenda, so don’t expect to put the finishing touches to a deal
over sushi. What is firmly on the agenda, however, is drinking – a quite a lot of it. Japanese
business people can consume a good deal of saki during an evening’s after-work partying
and enjoy toasting one another. If someone offers you a toast, be sure to return the
compliment.
Britain –Forget breakfast meetings. They’re deeply unpopular, even in forwardlooking London. The British prefer to do business over lunch or, on occasion, dinner. The
latter meal is, however, usually reserved for pleasure; allowing business contacts an
opportunity to get to know each other a little better, so don’t expect to talk shop over your
lamb cutlet and trifle.
One after-hours venue where business and pleasure can be mixed is the pub. “Going
to the pub” is something of a national pastime, no less so among business people than the
population as a whole, If your British business contacts take you to the pub, be prepared to
drink the British version of beer. Expect something a little different from the light, refreshing
beers you may be used to. British beer – warm and flat – is an important national product.
Make sure to try it before moving on to something a little more drinkable.
USA – Breakfast meetings, where business is mixed with steak and scrambled
eggs, have become pretty popular here in recent years. If you’re invited to one, set your
alarm clock for an early rise: such meetings often get underway as early as 7 am! Expect to
discuss a lot of business over your breakfast.
Business people for the US are also keen on after-hours entertaining. It’s not unusual
to receive an invitation to have an evening meal with a business host at his or her home. IF
you receive an invitation like this, remember to turn up punctually. You can also expect a
tour of your host’s home before the evening gets underway. Bring flowers or a bottle of
wine.
1. Have you ever done business with people from any of these countries in this guide?
Do you agree with the information provided?
2. After a meeting is finished, do you prefer to socialize with your business partners
over a drink in a pub, or would you rather take them to a cultural event such as a
theatre?
3. Can you offer advice about socializing with people from other cultures that you have
worked with?
4. What advice would you offer a visitor to your country about meetings and afterhours culture?