[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.17.6″ custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ module_class=”reverse-columns-mobile” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ min_height=”100px” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.6″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.6″ text_font=”roboto-regular||||||||” text_text_color=”#003a7c” custom_margin=”||75px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”||15px||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]Credits: ISTOCK\/LEO PATRIZI, PIOLA666, PRIVAT[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.17.6″ custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.6″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]What should be in your suitcase for an upcoming business trip to Italy? \u201cFor men, the musts are: a suit; closed-toe, clean shoes; and socks \u2013 but these should be long, not short,\u201d said Cecilia Arri, Mental Coach and Intercultural Coach from Bremen. And the Italian-born coach knows her stuff. After graduating and gaining several years of professional experience in the automotive sector of her home country, she moved to Germany for work in 2001, where she has since been working as a coach for many years. As well as short socks, in her experience, short-sleeved shirts are also \u2018out\u2019 when it comes to business meetings in the Italian Peninsula \u2013 especially in combination with a tie. For women choosing their outfits, one thing to keep in mind is that when it comes to gender norms, \u201cwomen in Italy tend to don slightly dressier attire than those in Germany.\u201d<\/p>\n
With the greeting \u201cBuongiorno, come sta?\u201d she recommends the tried-and-tested handshake and advises \u2013 counter to some business guides \u2013 against two kisses on the cheeks. \u201cThat\u2019s true at least for the first meeting. After that, you can see how the relationship develops. If it\u2019s going well, then kissing both cheeks may be appropriate on the second or third occasion,\u201d explained Arri. Speaking of development: Italian convention also requires opening pleasantries with a fair amount of small talk before getting down to business. Here, it doesn\u2019t hurt for the German visitor to avoid overly formal introductions in favour of open conversations about their family or hobbies, for example. \u201cItalians do not dictate such stark separations between professional and personal topics as in Germany. People are simply more open over there,\u201d she continued. Good conversation starters also include good food, football and holidaying \u2013 whilst it is wise to avoid talking about the Mafia,the differences between northern and southern Italy or salaries. The coach stresses, however, that this recommendation \u2013 along with the rest of the statements in this article \u2013 comes from personal experience and is not intended as a generalisation.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ module_class=”dtb-sticky” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_sidebar area=”et_pb_widget_area_7″ show_border=”off” admin_label=”Werbung Startseite \/ Artikel” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_sidebar][et_pb_sidebar area=”et_pb_widget_area_9″ show_border=”off” admin_label=”Werbung Artikel” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_sidebar][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ background_image=”https:\/\/www.logistics-pilot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Behind_06.jpg” parallax=”on” custom_padding=”325px||225px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”150px||150px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” title_text=”Behind_06″ sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.17.6″ custom_margin=”30px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” bottom_divider_style=”waves2″ bottom_divider_color=”#DFE6EE” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.6″ hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
\u201cFor your first visit, you should definitely allow plenty of time and come with a healthy appetite,\u201d said Arri. That\u2019s because Italian-style negotiations often involve a lot of breaks. Likewise, you will always eat together during a business meeting. \u201cIf you have a morning meeting, you should avoid eating a large breakfast and definitely plan for lunch with your business partner to be on the agenda; the same goes for dinner during an afternoon meeting. In Italy the eating culture is more predominant, whereas in Germany it\u2019s the drinking culture,\u201d she added with a smile. She also pointed out some more customs typical to southern Europeans. For one, hierarchies are observed more there than in Germany, whereby people\u2019s respective titles, e.g. ‘Dottore,’ should be included when addressing them. What\u2019s more, it is helpful to regularly check whether statements made have been understood correctly in order to rule out possible language-related misunderstandings and any disagreements down the line as a result. Positivity is another helpful tool when it comes to business talk, since complaining is often considered a negative character trait in Italy. On the other hand, your hosts will generally find the occasional interruption during a discussion less offensive than this would be perceived in Germany \u2013 indeed, they may also do this thanks to their southern-European temperament. \u201cOf course, not all 60\u00a0million Italians are passionate and expressive. That said, it won\u2019t exactly be rare to meet lively, humorous people who like to communicate with their hands and feet in my home country,\u201d the Turin-born coach explained with a little self-irony. <\/p>\n
When it comes to business appointments, Arri advises against scheduling these on the 13th or 17th if this falls on a Friday. These numbers are seen as bad luck. It is also not appropriate to wrap gifts in black or purple, as these colours are often associated with funerals. With some locals, there is also potential to make a significant faux pas when bidding farewell \u2013 and ruin the ‘Bella Figura’ (i.e. good impression) you were hoping for. Whereas an informal ‘Ciao’ will suffice in Germany, in Italy, it is customary to reserve this for friends only. In business contexts, the formal ‘Arrivederci’ is much more appropriate here. However, as above, your interactions with one another often change as the business relationship develops \u2013 similarly to how you may move from using ‘Sie’ to ‘Du’ in German. So there\u2019s no difference to Germany there! (bre)<\/em>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ module_class=”dtb-sticky” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.logistics-pilot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Cecilia-Arri_500px.png” title_text=”Cecilia-Arri_500px” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”25px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” alt=”Cecilia Arri, Mental Coach und interkulturelle Trainerin aus Bremen” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.6″ header_3_text_color=”#002e5b” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”||40px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Cecilia Arri, Mental Coach and Intercultural Coach from Bremen[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Italians enjoy a widespread reputation for their impeccable fashion sense. This also extends to professional spheres. As well as the right outfit, those wishing to do business there should come prepared with a healthy appetite and allow plenty of time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":60425,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[56],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-60445","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-behind-the-scenes-en"],"yoast_head":"\n\u201cItalians do not dictate such stark separations between professional and personal topics as in Germany.\u201d<\/h3>\n