Understanding the Business Etiquette of Prague

The European city of Prague is widely regarded as the central business hub of the Czech Republic. It has been selected as the location of various high profile exhibitions and business talks in recent times. With the availability of convenient Prague airport transfers, doing business here is becoming more and more popular.

Members of the international business community may often be surprised, however, by the unique business culture and unspoken 'rules' of the city. Business travellers may, therefore, find the following tips and information helpful.

Language

Those new to the city and arriving on Prague airport transfers for the first time may well be daunted at the prospect of having to speak Czech, anticipating difficulty overcoming the communication boundaries. However, it's worth emphasising that a significant proportion of Czech business people speak a second language - primarily English and German. (Your Prague airport transfers driver almost certainly will.) They certainly are used to making reasonable concessions but often enlist the assistance of professional translators in advance of business talks. It is still worth picking up a few words and phrases in the aim of making a positive impression, however.

Informal Meetings

Czech people are known for taking a reserved and formal approach to business, however some business travellers may have the opportunity to engage on a social basis with their hosts. Gifts should be presented when visiting private homes and shoes should be removed at the door in order to avoid causing offence. It may well be possible to follow the example of experienced colleagues, but a polite and reserved manner should always be adopted.

Scheduling & Attending Meetings

Meetings should be arranged well in advance and times and locations scheduled via email. In this city, lateness is equated with rudeness to a certain degree, so if travelling from abroad, always ensure you prebook the Prague airport transfers to arrive in plenty of time. Smart business attire is required and a formal appearance is expected at meetings and even in social situations.

Negotiations

Visiting business people should prepared to engage in protracted negotiations before forging deals with their Czech counterparts – nothing is casual here. Discussions are likely to proceed at a relatively slow rate and accurate facts and figures will be scrutinised before consideration. The majority of Czech business delegates are unwilling to barter or agree to concessions and may even be offended and deterred by high-pressure business tactics. The prospects of success will rest on a sense of fairness and respectability.