Image of RIO Carnival 2019 Ticket at rio-carnival.net
This is the first in a series of region-specific blog posts dedicated to fostering strong, impactful and mutually beneficial business relationships around the globe.
Brazil. Just hearing the name, I instantly conjure up a dream world of vibrant colors, mouth-watering food and beautiful couples dancing the samba. Stretching more than 2500 miles, Brazil touches nearly every country in South America, with the exception of Chile and Ecuador. Tourists flock there in droves…especially during the world famous festival known as Carnival. Brazil is the only South American country in which Portuguese is the primary language, and the hospitality of its people is unmatched.
If you’re anything like me, you’re probably ready to jump on a plane and head for the equator – but don’t launch that travel app just yet Whether going for business or pleasure, it’s wise to study up on the area before booking that trip. While Brazilians are well known for their courtesy and relative informality, there are still some fairly significant cultural taboos that visitors might find themselves unknowingly committing. I’ve outlined some of the more common ones below:
TIME IS RELATIVE – It’s true that time is theoretically important when visiting or doing business in Brazil. But in reality, if you’re on time, YOU’RE EARLY! Expect meetings to start anywhere between 5 and 20 minutes late, on average. If you’re headed to a party, fashionable lateness is recommended – 15 minutes is usually a respectable window.
‘OK’ MIGHT NOT BE OKAY – Gestures are a pretty huge part of communication in Brazil, but not all are created equal. Making the ‘ok’ sign is actually a sign of gross disrespect. There are some great videos on YouTube or other sites that go into great detail on non-verbal communications outside of the US.
PUTTING THE ‘GO’ IN NEGOTIATIONS – While it might seem counter-intuitive, negotiations in Brazil should not be about “getting down to business”. Instead, relationships take first priority. If anything is going to be accomplished, invest some up-front time in getting to know one another. Establishing trust is paramount to sustainable relationships.
DRESS TO IMPRESS – Brazilians take great pride in their appearance, and work hard to make a good impression. While personal styles vary greatly, visitors should be sure to put their best foot forward. On the weekends though? (Nearly) anything goes! Remember….seasons are reversed in the southern hemisphere, so be sure to pack appropriately.
Are you planning to travel – or have recently traveled – to Brazil? Share your experience below. Be sure to check back next week when we explore Central America and Mexico. Ate logo!
I too would love to jump on a plane and take off to Brazil. A visit to this beautiful and exciting country would check off 3 major “bucket list must-dos” for many world travelers as Brazil is home to the lush tropical rainforest of the Amazon, the site of Christ the Redeemer statue (the number 1 item on the list of the New 7 Wonders of the World), and of course the world famous Carnival. As you noted, before jumping on the plane there are some cultural topics to learn and understand. The four key points that discussed are very enlightening and caused me to do some more investigation. Thus, my research has produced a few more areas of consideration”
Expect Friendly Greetings: Being the warm and friendly people that they are, Brazilians are not opposed to showing public displays of affection. In a “business setting”, it is customary for men and women to shake hands when meeting. However, it is also common for men/women and women/women to kiss on the cheek when greeting each other in public (Moran, Abramson, & Moran, 2014).
Offer Respectful Titles: Although Btazil people are noted as being casual and “laid-back”. It is customary to address a person with their respective titles unless given prior permission to use first names only. For instances, a woman would be addressed as “Dona (Lady)”, a man would be “Senhor (Mister)”, and an elder would be “Doutor/Doutora (Doctor)” (Moran, Abramson, & Moran, 2014).
Remember Brazil is a Developing Nation: Although the tourist areas are very beautiful and flourishing, there are many areas of the country that are many communities steeped in poverty. In fact “favelas” are communities that are controlled by drug lords and unsafe for all travelers. Furthermore, it is suggested not to “flash your money” or wear expensive jewelry. The safest route is to try and fit in (Rosbottom, 2019)
Don’t Forget Your Visa: Finally, when travelling to Brazil, citizens of many countries to include the US, “Canada, and most European, Asian and African countries”. It is a good idea to make sure all documentation is in order before traveling (Rosbottom, 2019).
References:
Moran, R. T., Abramson, N. R., & Moran, S. V. (2014). Managing cultural differences (9th ed.). Oxford,UK: Routledge. ISBN: 978-0-415-71735-9
Rosbottom, K. (2019, February 19). 13 things NOT to do in Brazil. DestinationTips.com. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-finds/2018/10/10/5-best-gaming-chairs-for-the-serious-gamer/#b277b5e3ac46
Good morning Dana,
I loved learning about the intricacies of visiting and doing business in Brazil. Before taking this class I would have never thought of how little things like hand gestures could make such a huge impact on how I would be received by others from other countries. I don’t even think sometimes before making them it is so commonplace here in the U.S. As you mentioned it is so important as we travel for business or pleasure to understand the culture and do some reading before going. The global economy is shrinking the world for everyone and we are coming into contact with more and more cultures than ever before. I was wondering if you have ever traveled to another country and if you did, did you investigate the different cultures you would be experiencing to know how they would receive you?