Global Meeting Profile

Over the next few days Turbine Energy International will be meeting with different entities from two separate global locations, Greece and South Korea. This information packet is to educate you on the differences between the two counties, and to recognize some different cultural norms that will be helpful to you while in attendance of these meetings.

First and foremost will be the language barrier, there will be interrupters on hand. South Korea main language is Korean, while Greece is Greek. This brings us to the introductions. In Greece It is common during initial meeting with both men and women that a light handshake is common with direct eye contact. In South Korea a light handshake is common in a business setting along with a slight nod. After the initial meeting, the communication style is important, Greeks tend to speak loudly with emotion, and this is not to be offensive. South Koreans tend to have a language barrier and try to speak at the lowest volume possible, so before reacting to anything they say, try and determine the meaning. While talking you may also experience direct eye contact from the Greeks, and indirect eye contact from the South Korean’s.

Once this initial meeting has occurred and the talks get into business to take into consideration are the following: Dress code for both Greeks and South Koreans, typically a dark suit is common. Titles are very important to both cultures, so please when addressing each other, us Mr., Mrs., or Miss. Arriving on time is also extremely important. During negotiations it is important to remember that Greeks can be animated, this is not to be confused with aggression. On the South Korean side, they value the relationship, and no matter what, saving face is a must. During face to face meetings with both groups, it is very important to remember that hierarchy is very special. When talking to a group of South Koreans, always try to address the senior ranking official. Another point to...