Business in England

 

As someone who is taking a business minor, analyzing the business operations of companies within England was something that piqued my interest. Although England and the United States have many commonalities, there can also be some significant differences when it comes to interacting with companies of other cultures.

According to Expatica, much like in America, the common professional greeting is a firm handshake with eye contact. Along with addressing new business contacts with the title they introduce themselves with. Once you move along past the greeting, you move on to small talk. In the United Kingdom it is commonplace to discuss topics such as the weather or holidays, however it is important to avoid discussions of politics, which in today’s climate can bring tension to a conversation. When one shows up to interact with another business, bringing a gift is not customary. If one chooses to bring a gift, souvenirs from your home country or food baskets are common, but one must avoid spending too much or little on a gift for risk of insulting the company or individual.

A major difference I noticed between America and England was the way people dress. Although not everyone is headed to a business meeting, the dress code has higher expectations. Expatica presents that in a business context formal business attire is accepted, however smart-casual is the standard way of dressing for most people in their everyday life. Unlike in America where sweatpants are common to see worn outside the home, I did not see any individuals dressed in lounge-wear or pajamas while out and about. I appreciated this custom in England, as to me it felt like the individuals were holding society and those around them to a higher standard. 

This was certainly not the only difference a business person could struggle with when conducting business in London. There are many communication differences that differ just enough to cause difficulties. The British are likely to be more direct in their approach to business, but are indirect when criticizing an idea or action. This is an easy way to cause communication strain because while this sounds similar to how many people in the United States, one wrong phrase and you have just offended those you are attempting to make a deal with. Also according to Expatica, the British utilize subtle body language while communicating. This means that Americans are more likely to appear loud or obnoxious within a professional setting. Finally, in the United Kingdom business is not always conducted in a professional setting with some meetings taking place at a local pub. This can be difficult because while similar to a bar, the setting is different and can lead an American business person to question how to interact in the relaxed setting.

While I did not interview any business people while I was in England, I got to experience many interactions that were quite interesting. While at the hotel with my mom on the final night of our extended trip together we went down to the hotel bar. A major business conference was happening nearby and soon the doors opened and the bar was flooded with business people. From what I saw there were many similar things to what I would assume a conference would be like in the United States. There was plenty of networking, with many individuals coaxing their friends over to meet someone new. Everyone was quite social and while the event had seemingly moved to the bar for the evening, nobody was downing beers or aggressively drinking. I would say the biggest difference I noticed from interactions in America was the volume. The bar became quite full but the noise was not overwhelming. Conversations were held in a peaceful manner, which I appreciated so I did not have to overhear the interactions around me. My mom and I did end up leaving once the room got so crowded, but it was interesting to be able to analyze the business environment from this view.