SBTM September 2015 | Page 17

away while speaking it means that they are being insincere or hiding something. This cultural aspect must always be taken into account during any interaction. As with many other cultures, business deals develop slowly. This is due to the fact that Azeris like to get to know their business partners before engaging in serious business. Typically business meetings will begin discussing topics that have nothing to do with the business deal. This is the Azeri way of gauging their counterpart’s personality. As the negotiations continue it is imperative not to push your Azeri counterpart into making a decision on the spot. Azeris like to take time and thoughtfully consider a proposal before making a decision. Although many Azeri businesspeople do speak English it is important to find out ahead of time if an interpreter will be needed for business meetings and conferences. Regardless of whether or not interpr