Europe’s third largest country, Spain has experienced a turbulent and reverberating past, including the dissolution of the Spanish Empire, civil war, fascist dictatorship and the introduction of democracy, all of which have had a significant impact on the Spanish cultural psyche. After establishing a good relationship, men may embrace and pat each other on the shoulder. See Spanish-English translations with audio pronunciations, examples, and word-by-word explanations. Generally, all members of the younger generation speak at least some English which is in sharp contrast to the older generation, where the chances of encountering someone with a decent level of English are negligible. Particularly in the initial phase of a business relationship, it is advisable to focus on strengthening personal bonds. The country suffered enormous hardship during the civil war which raged between 1936 and 1939 and resulted in thirty six years of military dictatorship by General Francisco Bahamonde (Franco). Translate Communication in spanish. During the 16th and 17th Centuries the Spanish lost command of the seas to England and subsequently struggled to embrace the industrial and mercantile revolutions taking place over the next century. For those needing a more detailed and comprehensive overview of Spain we have published an expert, Report on Spanish Society, Culture & Business. Once a relationship is established, men may embrace and pat each other on the shoulder. Spaniards do not like to lose face, so they will not necessarily say that they do not understand something, particularly if you are not speaking Spanish. Welcome topics of conversation include discussion about your home country, places you have visited (particularly in Spain), Spanish art and architecture, Spanish traditions such as dance or wines and family. √ Fast and Easy to use. They are very much concerned about how others perceive them and try to avoid looking foolish, at all times. Spanish people tend to be extrovert and friendly as is typical in Mediterranean culture and they place modesty and personality foremost to professional or business success. Throughout the Spanish economy, individualism is predominant in management, whereas teamwork is not so much appreciated. Good, effective communication is always an essential element of a successful business encounter. Spaniards can also be very proud and individualistic and, as a Mediterranean culture, they use their extrovert nature to get to know others and learn about other cultures. Also, keep in mind that the more you get to know your associate beforehand, the higher are the chances of a successful outcome, since the relationship is such an essential element. Spaniards expect both sides to strictly adhere to the terms of a contract. The final sections will then outline essential recommended guidelines that should be adhered to when eating out with your business associates in Spain. Promote Your Study Programs Spanish people always prefer face-to-face contact with written or telephone communications, as they believe it is easier to build a personal relationship that way. After reading this section, you will have an understanding of the expected verbal and non-verbal communication in Spain. September 1: Festival of Abraham’s Sacrifice (R) – Ceuta and Melilla. Present your business card to the receptionist upon arriving. 34 New House, 67-68 Hatton Garden, London EC1N 8JY, UK. Under the country code +34, there were a total of 75.08 million connections in 2019. During Holy Week, processions take place when participants wear a capirote which is a pointed hat of conical form and is part of the uniform of some brotherhoods and fraternities. doctor / professor). Example sentences: There was a breakdown in communication between members of the group. Spaniards are very thorough. June 24: St John's Day (San Juan) (R) – Catalonia. Cultural insights. They can also offer unofficial postgraduate degrees. Women may kiss each other on both cheeks, starting with the left. So, you will keep the personal relationships you develop throughout your career and businesses have to re-invest time and resources in developing relationships whenever their representatives change. Young, unmarried women have become more independent and are migrating to cities for education or work. During the history of Spain, there have been long periods where different religious groups have coexisted, including Muslims, Jews and Christians. Communication Learn about communication styles, body language, personal space, greetings and suitable conversation topics, as well as key words and phrases. Social beliefs and customs practiced in Spain areinfluenced by the local religion and traditions. It is customary to shake hands at every business encounter, mainly when introduced to someone new. [Paella - the quintessentially Spanish dish], [Strike a pose - Flamenco dancers in training. Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Communication in Spain. Hand your card so the Spanish side faces the recipient. It is on the successful establishment of these when you should proceed to discuss business matters and close deals. Trust and personal relationships are the keys to the success of doing business in Spain. Spain is a predominantly Roman Catholic country with approximately 94% of the population affiliated to that religion. Do not talk about religion. Spain is a large country with many regions each having their own version of traditional cuisine. In the business environment, it is reasonable to expect that Spanish executives will speak English and will not require an interpreter. It is usually eaten in bars whilst socialising with friends and family. 1 Jan. 2020 https://commisceo-global.com/resources/country-guides/afghanistan-guide, Commisceo Global Consulting Ltd. (2020, January 1) Afghanistan - Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette. This means that citizens of Spain focus more on how a message is said, rather than just the words used alone. http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/spain-country-profile.html, Share your European work/study experiences. Spanish people like to take their time and hate being rushed when making an important decision. Even fruit is eaten with a knife and fork. Apart from English, you may find that your business contacts will speak other languages; French and German are the most common. The capital city Madrid has possibly the largest number of bars per capita of any European city and a very active nightlife. You should avoid confrontation as much as possible, because Spaniards do not like to admit that they are wrong, especially in public. January 2: Monday after New Year's Day (R) – Andalucía, Aragón, Asturias, Castilla and León, Murcia and Melilla. When addressing a professional then use titles where appropriate (e.g. In some instances, you may be expected to use their professional titles when addressing a person, such as a professor or a doctor together with their surname. There is enormous pride and interest in the heritage of Spanish art and the Spanish government support all forms of art and humanities which are reflected in their museums, universities and professional academies. Elegant accessories are important for both men and women. Children in Spain are highly prized and doted upon by parents and extended family. Spain is in the Central European time zone and adheres to CET (UTC+1) during the winter and CEST (UTC+2) during the summer months from March to October. Traditionally women in Spain were the homemakers and men provided for the family. Spain’s powerful empire began when Columbus ‘discovered’ the Americas in 1492 which led to the colonisation of most of South and Central America, Mexico, parts of the Caribbean and much of what is now the USA. It often means that they are interested in what you are saying. Make sure all your printed material is available in both English and Spanish. Commisceo Global Consulting Ltd. Afghanistan - Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette. Most young people in Spain are fluent in or at least have a good understanding of English but some older people may require the use of an interpreter. It is not advisable to give chrysanthemums, white lilies or red roses and flowers should be in odd numbers except for 13 which is seen as an unlucky number. Communication regarding business relationships is often quite formal and incorporates strict rules of protocol. http://www.euc.illinois.edu/pie/documents/SpanishHandbook.pdf. July 25: St James' Day (Santiago Apostol) (R) – Basque Country and Navarre. Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Business Culture, Communication Access & Realtime Translation (CART), Startup Management: How to Setup a Successful Online Business, A Job in Dublin : 5 Reasons to Work in Ireland. To fit in with the business culture in Spain, it’s advisable to stick to dealing with your counterpart during any negotiations. Thus, you should allow sufficient time in your travel arrangements for long meetings and socialising, giving adequate time to get to know each other. Use utensils to eat most food. You may also decide to conduct the negotiation in Spanish, which might be particularly useful in cases where a long-term relationship is anticipated, as speaking the native language of your Spanish associates may help you to integrate better into their culture. You will be expected to use both unless your associates let you know clearly that they only use the one name, and the same rule applies to compound first names, for instance, José-María. The most important period of celebration in Spain is Holy Week (Semana Santa), the annual tribute to the Passion of Jesus Christ. People use a more animated style of body language and expressive gestures. However, in today’s language, there is a tendency to use first names and tú from the outset in business relations, where associates are of equal status or seniority. [Riders in a horse festival in Andalucia cross paths. Spanish people are open and friendly. Another favourite is the Tapas, which is an assortment of appetizers which may be hot or cold. Inheritance laws have paved the way in the last few decades to bring equality for both sexes. There is no concept of a middle name although the first name is sometimes a composite of two names - eg:  José Luis. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it This page was last edited on 4 December 2019, at 14:22 (UTC). Most Spaniards do not give their opinion at meetings. Traveling South America, Spain, or anywhere else can be more enjoyable if you understand the culture of the place you want to visit. If receiving a gift it should be opened immediately in the presence of the giver. January 6: Epiphany / Three Kings' Day (N). The following section will focus on those aspects of Business Communication in Spain that is essential, mainly during the initial phases of a meeting. Similarly, in the Spanish language, there are two ways of saying ’you‘. In 2008, Spain suffered a catastrophic economic recession but has begun recovery showing three years of GDP growth above the EU average. Even during a first encounter, the Spanish tend to be extremely outgoing and very friendly. Whereas, ‘tú’ is more informal and used mainly amongst family members and friends. Simply change the country name depending on which guide you are referencing. © Commisceo Global Consulting Ltd. 2021 All Rights Reserved. Once  children have completed their secondary compulsory education (ESO) they have three choices:  they can either enter the work force, go into further education via High School which is known as the Spanish Baccalaureate or embark upon Vocational training. As in all countries that celebrate Easter, the dates vary each year between the last two weeks of March to the first two weeks of April. Woman to make certain it is acceptable for a Tuesday 13th as this seen! 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