BUSINESS CULTURE

AND ETIQUETTE
IN MEXICO
1. Greetings
2. Names and Titles
3. Business Meetings
4. Conversation Topics
5. Negotiation
6. Business Entertaining
7. Gift giving
8. Practical Advice
BUSINESS ETIQUETTE IN MEXICO
Business Culture & Etiquette Guides
GREETINGS
The usual form of greeting is shaking hands. A man should
wait for a woman to hold out her hand rst.
Men, who already know each other, usually embrace each
other. The usual form of an embrace is as follows: rst they
shake hands, then they embrace each other and, nally, they
shake hands again.
When they greet a woman that they know, they kiss her on
her cheek.
Business Culture & Etiquette Guides
In introductions, Seor (Mr) or Seora (Mr) is followed by the
surname. If the person has a university qualication, Seor
or Seora is replaced by the qualication (Doctor, Architect,
Engineer, etc.).
First names are only used when there is a close relationship. It is
better to wait for them to address you with your rst name.
University qualications are important. In meetings it is normal
to address people using only these titles.
NAMES AND TITLES
Business Culture & Etiquette Guides
The best times for business meetings are breakfast or lunch, the
main meal of the day. Business breakfast are usually held at a
guests hotel and start at 8:00 am. or even earlier.
The meeting begins with small talk before proceeding to the real
business. During the course of the meeting, as well as discussing
professional matters, they also make personal comments.
Mexicans are ostensibly polite and friendly in both personal
and professional contexts. Therefore they avoid giving a straight
no. Although they may think that the proposal is not right,
they will say that the product is good and has potential in such a
huge market. They do not like to upset the foreign visitor.
BUSINESS MEETINGS
Business Culture & Etiquette Guides
Controversial topics of conversation to be avoided are: the
conquest and Spanish colonial period, comparisons with the
United States and illegal emigration.
Despite the image of the colonial period portrayed in
murals by Mexican artists, Spain is greatly admired and
relations between the two countries are excellent.
Favourite topics of conversation are the Mayan and Aztec
cultures, Mexican cuisine and the countrys natural beauties.
CONVERSATION TOPICS
Business Culture & Etiquette Guides
Balance is the key to negotiation in Mexico: you should
not always take the initiative, but neither should you sit
back and give them free reins. Pressurising tactics are
counterproductive.
You should stress trust and the mutual benets for the
companies negotiating. Emotional arguments can be more
efective in negotiations than logical arguments based on gures.
Haggling is widely used and takes up time. In the initial ofers
you should have a wide negotiation margin.
NEGOTIATION
Business Culture & Etiquette Guides
Lunches are between companies that know each other. If the
after-lunch session to talk about business is expected to be
long, the other party should be forewarned.
When you eat Mexican food you should be aware of
Venganza de Moctezuma (Moctezumas revenge). If they say
that it hardly has any chilli, it is best to ask for something else
and make sure that it does not have any chilli.
During the meals you should be careful with the amount
of alcohol that you drink. They are used to drinking large
amounts of tequila, wine, and whisky.
BUSINESS ENTERTAINING
Business Culture & Etiquette Guides
Presents are not usually given in a business context, but
they are highly appreciated.
For example, a correct gesture is to give a present to the
secretaries on a second visit to the country; perfumes or
scarves are a good choice. A male executive must say that
it is from his wife.
GIFT GIVING
Business Culture & Etiquette Guides
To obtain the Mexican Business Culture Guide with more
than 100 tips about etiquette and protocol, verbal and non-
verbal communication, negotiation strategies, etc., clic on:
Mexican Business Culture and Etiquette Guide
To obtain Business Culture Guides in other countries clic on:
Business Culture and Etiquette Guides in 70 countries
PRACTICAL ADVICE
Business Culture & Etiquette Guides