Business Etiquette and Protocol

Relationships & Communication

• South Africans are transactional and do not need to establish long-standing personal relationships before conducting business.
• If your company is not known in South Africa, a more formal introduction may help you gain access to decision-makers and not be shunted off to gatekeepers.
• Networking and relationship building are crucial for long-term business success.
• Relationships are built in the office and not at a bar.
• Most businessmen are looking for long-term business relationships.
• Although the country leans towards egalitarianism, businesspeople respect senior executives and those who have attained their position through hard work and perseverance.
• There are major differences in communication styles depending upon the individual's cultural heritage.
• For the most part, South Africans want to maintain harmonious working relationships, so they avoid confrontations.
• They often use metaphors and sports analogies to demonstrate a point.
• Most South Africans, regardless of ethnicity, prefer face-to-face meetings to more impersonal communication mediums such as email, letter, or telephone.