Culture Questions 1
A series of Culture Questions 1 to 5
This series
of Culture Questions 1 to 5 is a set of traditions based on values such as kindness,
efficiency, and logic that have evolved over time. Culture questions 1 to 5 give you a
structure in which to operate. Think of them as Montreal rules of the
game. Would you play golf, football or tennis without knowing the
rules? And even if you would, do you thing you'd be asked to play
again?
1. Aggressiveness
- Above all, avoid raising your voice and getting into conflict with partners or clients.
- Instead,
attempt to settle a disagreement or difference of opinion by finding a solution that will be satisfying to all.
- Our
society favors settling disputes through negotiation.
- Violent
expression of ethnic, political or religious rivalry and hatred is
never tolerated.
- People
who stay calm are highly regarded.
- Personal
or disrespectful statements can spoil a business relation.
- We don’t appreciate ironic remarks, sarcasm, scorn or mockery.
- We
don’t like aggressive behavior, argumentative conversations or
heated discussions, especially in public.
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2. Agreements
- Agreements
can be
quickly
made.
- And, agreements can be quickly
undone.
- We do so when arrangements don’t
bring
satisfaction
to all parties.
- Agreements
between
business
people are
based on
professional
benefits.
- We do not
feel bound
to an
agreement
that
does not
bring satisfaction to each party.
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3. Appointments
- It is best to avoid controversial topics.
- Politic, religion and sex are considered controversial topics.
- Cell phones should be turned off during and appointment.
- It is consider rude to speak a foreign language in front of people who
cannot speak it or understand it.
-
Saying
nothing is considered bad taste.
- Too much talking is frowned
upon.
- The conversation should start with a general topic.
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4. Assistance
- If
we can
assist you
in
something,
we will.
- If
we can't assist you, we will introduce
you to
someone
who can.
- We do not expect
a gift
in return.
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5. Bilinguism
- Anglophones who stayed in Montreal after the referendum of 1980 and 1995 became bilingual.
- Immigrants
are multilingual and, 16.5% of the population of Montreal speaks 3 languages.
- Francophones
walked
out
of
their
cultural
ghetto.
- 53.4% of Montrealers speak French and English. 37% speak French only. 7.4% speak English only.
- The
result is
a unique
and
easily
exportable cultural mix.
- We
speak
French
with a Canadian accent
and, at
first, you
might find
it
difficult
to
understand
us.
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6. Binding Agreements
-
When
you give your word, when you promise a service or a price you are bound to your promise.
-
Your
word becomes a verbal binding agreement.
- A contract is a legally binding agreement.
-
Your
credibility and the value of your promise or signature will be affected if you don't deliver.
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7. Body Language
- Common courtesies such as smiling and greeting people are expected and appreciated.
- In
conversations between two or more people, direct eye contact is
valued and appreciated.
- An attitude that demonstrates our sincerity and
our interest in the other person and in the conversation.
- We
maintain a distance of approximately 60 cm or 3 feet between each
other.
- We feel uncomfortable when our personal space is invaded.
- We
rarely touch each other while conversing.
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8. Business Cards
- The use of French on one side and English on the other is acceptable.
- If you offer your business card we will offer ours in return.
- In most cases, we will wait until you ask us for our business card.
- We exchange business cards, but remain selective.
-
We
exchange business cards when
we wish to
stay in
relation
with
someone.
- The exchange is usually done at the end of a meeting rather than at the beginning.
- We
will
often
hand
over
our business
card
without
paying
much
attention
to
it.
- Don’t
be
offended,
it
is only
because
we do
business
in
a
rather
informal
way.
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9. Business Culture
-
Compliance
to schedules and deadlines.
-
Cooperation
and flexibility at work.
-
Effectiveness
of business and social contacts.
-
Hiring
and promotions based on skills.
-
Tasks
regulated by a job description or an employment contract.
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10. Business Etiquette
- Know
how to introduce yourself.
- You can say your full name, smile, offer a firm handshake and ask a question as in culture questions 1.
-
Master
French as much as you can (read, write, speak).
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11. Business Meetings
- It is best to arrive five minutes early and to turn off our cell phone.
- In some more formal or more friendly meetings we may be expected to shake hands when we arrive and when we leave.
- It is common to begin the discussion with some informal talk about sports, the weather or culture questions 1.
- Business is discussed in the middle of the meeting.
- Business meetings are structured around a schedule that outlines the points of discussion.
- Working meetings generally follow a specific agenda with precise goals.
- During
meetings,
men and
women
express
their
opinions
freely.
- We prefer meetings that end in a positive manner.
- Long
and short
meetings
require a
good
amount of
understanding
and
cooperation
from
everyone.
- Many
of us see
long
meetings
as a waste
of time,
whereas
people of
other
cultures
regard
them as
time
rightly
invested
in
learning
and in
trusting
each
other.
- Time
is a very important factor in our society.
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12. Business People
- After having reached a peak in 2008, the rate of working women in 2009 was 60.9%.
- In 2009, the disparity between the work rate of men (69.9%) and the work rate of women (60,9%) was only 9.0%.
- The smallest ever recorded between 2001 and 2009.
- We use the term business people because of our statistics.
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13. Business Relationships
- A
simple
verbal
agreement
can seal
a
commercial
collaboration
or a
minor
contract.
- Business
relationships
are
usually
trustful
and
informal.
- Here
people
don’t
make deals
because of
their
social
bonds,
they make
deals
because
they find
it worth
their
while.
- In
Montreal,
personal
and
business
relationships
are two
separate
entities.
- When
major
contracts
are
involved, binding agreements
are
ratified
in
writing.
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Last updated on August 24, 2014
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Concept & Design - Rachel Louise Barry (RLB)
