Business
the host know. It is a good idea to
arrive ten minutes early so you are
prepared to start on time.
If you traveled to Iceland twenty
years ago and think it is the same,
it isn’t. Then, punctuality was not
a must and “dropping in” prevailed
with many business appointments.
So be sure you are up to date.
Ireland
Be sure to make appointments in
advance. There is somewhat of
a difference between foreign and
local associates. But unless you are
local, be sure of on time arrival. It
is considered inconsiderate, as well
as impolite, to be late. If you are
planning several appointments in a
day, you need to allow plenty of time
for traffic, especially in ublin. If for
some reason you are running late,
you should phone and tell time of
arrival. Ask if it is too late and they
would rather reschedule, or if you
can still come. Now as the foreigner,
if you have arrived, you may wait up
to fifteen minutes. he Irish are laid
back with time, both business-wise
and social. fter fifteen minutes,
feel free to call and check to be
sure the meeting is still scheduled.
Israel
In general, the Israelis are casual
about time, but they do expect
you to be punctual and prior
appointments are necessary.
Italy
In Italy, rules change, as punctuality
is not a priority. The key is patience
and to be prepared for delays and
some waiting. I encourage you not
to view this as a lack of respect,
but rather one of multitasking. Be
sure to build some exibility into
deadlines, as the firm you are dealing
with may be doing several projects
at once.
Latvia
Punctuality is appreciated by
Latvians, as they are punctual
themselves. Arriving early will
provide you with a couple of more
minutes to prepare, while you wait
for the meeting to start on time.
Lithuania
Be sure to set up your meeting two
to three weeks prior to the date. You
will be expected to arrive on time
and arriving five to ten minutes early
is good. If you are going to be late,
call. Lithuanians prefer to meet
face-to-face. They want to ensure
and build relationships and
understanding.
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