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Cultural Factors and Customs
Australia is an island continent with six states namely Queens Land, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia, and Wales. Most people live in the urban areas especially around the coastal regions. The capital cities automatically are also six namely Darwin, Brisbane, Canberra, Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne. Excluding Tasmania, Australia covers approximately an area of about 7.6 million square kilometers. The social aspects in Australia are highly valued since they act as the unifying factor in the country they include, language, religion, arts and the sporting culture (Frankie, 171). The social aspects determine the future of the country both economically, socially, and politically.
Language is the first aspect; many people are urged to learn the national language which is English and also a unifying factor among the people. There are also a variety of other languages that are used in Australia such as Greek and Vietnamese. Another aspect is that of religion, where most of the citizens in Australia are Christians by religion. Australia is recognized as a nation with a wide cultural diversity due to the many religions practiced. The earliest religions date way back to the islander people who found around 60, 000 years ago. There is no official rule in the nation that restricts people from practicing any religion as long as they respect the law. Australia is also famous for its vibrant and fine art that showcases the rich culture among the Australian society. The visual arts has shaped and improved Australia’s image worldwide mainly due to the talented visual artists that exist (Lee, 110).
A common feature of the business industry in Australia is that of a non-hierarchical democratic culture. Power is not assigned spontaneously to an individual merely because of their stature. Achievement actually is what is used to appoint the leaders. It is important therefore to ensure you treat everybody fairly irrespective of their status. Australians are generally known to be very friendly and open (Maslow, 20). They are also known to portray a unique character especially in the business approach by acting rather less formal in tackling business interactions as compared to their worldwide counterparts.
First names are used in all business interactions .In the initial meeting however surnames should be used when addressing the Australian client. Humor is also a common feature in the business situation in Australia even in circumstances that seems inappropriate to use humor. To build a firm bond with your client it is advisable to forge a close relationship for maximum rapport. Australians are well known to be very direct especially on communication matters. They expect people to say what they intend to say in literal sense and hugely appreciate brevity (Murdock, 145). Australians are also known to be very receptive on matters involving new innovations and opinions engineered by other people.
Punctuality in business meetings is an attribute that Australians respect. Handshakes are very vital when starting a meeting and after finishing the meeting .The hand shake should be quick but a firm one. Critics also dictate that presentations should be presented in a humble way without trying to prove that one is an eminent person. Trivial discussions especially on sports before the meeting starts and maintaining eye contact are also advised to build trust. Avoid emotional techniques of influencing clients since they are not part of the business etiquette in Australia. Conservative attire is also required to ensure decency in the business forum (Rogers, 130). In Sydney and Melbourne conservative dark dresses and suits are expected to be the official dress code. In other regions such as Brisbane and in the tropics a tie and a shirt with slacks is formal enough. Business cards may also be exchanged in the meeting but one should not be offended if they give out their cards but their counterparts do not return the gesture.
Australians expect foreigners to act in specific ways or avoid some certain behaviors. For instance, they will appreciate it if one says the normal ‘hello’ rather than trying to use their ‘G’day’ greeting. Authenticity is also appreciated when someone tries to be themselves. On special occasions such as an invitation to a BBQ it is appropriate to bring along good beer with you. Avoid being late on social events or any meeting. If an individual does not arrive on time or is late for more than 15 minutes then the Australian etiquette is disrespected (Lee, 110).
Australia and Canada remarkably have a lot in common especially on social factors such as history and religion. Religion in both countries is important but does not play a vital role in the workplace or the public life. In both countries, Christianity is the most common religion; however, it is also a private affair for most people. In Australia for instance, there are many religions due to the many number of immigrants thus a diverse variety of religions. A recent study done in Canada indicated that the nation is somehow not religious (Maslow, 10). It is common for people to miss going to church on Christmas in Canada.
On matters of history remarkably both Canada and Australia seem to share similar histories. In recent history both countries suffered and grieved many casualties after participating in the world wars after allying with Britain. They also had to learn how to forge identities after the war concerning the world orders. The major differences between the two nation’s surfaces when matters of past colonial events are mentioned. Instance; Canadians seem to avoid the Americans while Australians seem to be in good relations with the Americans. On geographical matters, both nations are islands with many people living in urban towns and near the coastal regions. The coastal regions in the two nations seem to be their source of economic prosperity (Murdock, 145). Montreal for instance has a renowned seaport that handles both imports and exports thus making it a mega financial hub.
Generally six types of business etiquettes in Australia are keenly followed .The etiquettes include, punctuality, formal greetings in a meeting, proper presentation of ideas, avoiding emotional methods of persuading. The last two etiquettes involve decent dressing codes and effective organization of meetings. First crucial meetings should be scheduled or organized by serious individuals. Punctuality is very vital in business forums in Australia. It is terrible to keep someone waiting, therefore, the incidents should be avoided as much as possible; it is advisable to arrive some minutes earlier than the scheduled time. Meetings are usually relaxed, but one should avoid taking advantage of the situation or go to the extreme extent. Shaking hands is the most common way of showing gratitude and other methods such as bowing or kissing should be avoided. Presentations should be made with either figures or facts but exaggerations should be avoided at all cost (Franke, 170). Finally as stated earlier the business climate in Australia does not recognize feelings and emotions when business matters are in discussion. Lastly decent clothes are expected to be worn in business meetings in Australia.
Do’s
1.A foreigner should just simply say Hello, how are you the normal way
2.A handshake and a smile is appropriate when meeting the Australian client for the first time
3.Have self-confidence and good humor when presenting your opinion
Taboos
1.A foreigner should avoid Aussie terms at all cost
2.Avoid commenting on an individual’s accent as they usually define their social class.
Avoid blowing your nose in the open
In conclusion the understanding of the do’s and the taboos are aimed at ensuring a good relationship between a foreigner and the Australian. One can lose an important deal as a result of a simple miss understanding between a foreigner and an Australian due to the culture. For instance, if the client teases you reply with humor and respect. The attitude will definitely make the Australian respect you. Authenticity being another attribute they respect one should therefore stick to his language since trying to imitate or use the Aussie terms could make you sound patronizing. Matters of personal hygiene could also eliminate a person as a major business partner there high levels of hygiene should be observed.
Works cited
Franke, Hofstede. “Cultural Roots of Economic Performance: A research note”. New York: New York printing press, 2012.Print
Lee, James. “Cultural Analysis in Overseas Operations”. Cambridge: Harvard university press, 2010.Print
Maslow, Amanda. “A Theory of Human Motivation. In Readings in Managerial Psychology”. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2008.Print
Murdock, Linton “The Common Denominator of Culture in the Science of Man in the World Crisis”. Columbia: Columbia University Press, 2009. Print
Rogers, Michael. “Diffusion of Innovations”. New Jersey: Free Press, 2007. Print
