Russian business etiquette

The benefits of understanding Russian business etiquette cannot be underestimated. Unlocking the great potential of the Russian market can be quite a challenge. Foreign companies planning to do business in Russia, will have to study, and understand, the Russian mentality, the Russian character and the Russian people.

Overall, the best way to do business in Russia is to accept that things happen differently. Therefore you have to adapt and evolve your own mindset accordingly in order to fully exploit the market.

To begin to understand Russian business etiquette you must remember that, not so long ago, existed the largest single union in the world, the USSR. It consisted of 15 republics all working together under one system and towards one common goal. Despite its break-up, connections between former Soviet Republics are still strong, and Russian business etiquette is strongly embedded in this system.

Gaining a grasp of Russian business etiquette will give you a more easily controlled access to the markets of other newly independent states.

This can bring fresh and significant outlets for your goods or services. The fact that Russian business etiquette and business practices are very similar to all those other countries can be of great help. You can benefit from it tremendously.

The knowledge of cultural differences with your Russian partners will allow you to understand them better, communicate more successfully, act correspondingly, and foresee more effectively. The use of this knowledge on the specific Russian market will allow you to be ahead of other western companies, and therefore ahead of your direct competition.

It should be remembered that Russia and the other former Soviet Republics are now in times of deep economic and social transformation which are not, by any means, finalised.

One of the services of Professional Translation Services is to help companies and individuals with practical advice on how to use the knowledge of cultural differences to their advantage when entering the Russian market.

The information we offer to you is based on our experience of Russian business etiquette from living and working in Russia, and other former Soviet republics.

We also have key agents working on the ground in each of the former Soviet republics who are able to provide us with current, up to the minute, information about market conditions, government grants, initiatives and political changes, which may have a direct or indirect influence on your business dealings there.

Please feel free to contact us if you are considering a business proposal that takes you into the Russian market. By helping you to understand the way things work we can hopefully steer you clear of the costly pitfalls that so many western companies have had to deal with.

If you take your market seriously, the market will take you seriously.