Cross Cultural Etiquette and Manners: Singapore

Singapore: Etiquette and Manners

• Age, hierarchical position or status of a person are important in Singapore business world and society.
• Group dependence and group harmony are more important than those of an individual in Singapore culture. So, group is more important than an individual.
• Business dealings are more formal.
• Meetings and appointments should be planned and dates decided well in advance, say two weeks or so before.
• Many businesses are closed around Chinese new year for almost a week- this is in late January and early February. Plan your meetings accordingly.
• Arrive for the meeting punctually.
• Introductions are done in order of age or status. Elderly person or the person with the highest status is introduced first.
• Greetings can be exchanged with hand-shake in business environment. In social setup, particularly with older people, greeting by way of bowing the head is acceptable.
• Men and women may shake hands if woman takes the initiative in extending her hand first. To be on the conservative side, when being introduced to someone of the opposite sex, bowing or nodding the head and giving smile are OK.
• Exchange your business cards after the introductions.
• Give your business card by using both hands.
• Receive business cards, examine them carefully to display your respect and then alone put them in your business cards case.
• Seating arrangement in meetings follows hierarchy and therefore, wait to be told about your and your associates' seats.
• Personal relationships help in building the business relationships in Singapore.
• In business meetings, the business agenda follows an initial small talk.
• You will have to give lot of attention to the non-verbal body language, silence, hints and such subtlety of their communications. Explicit "no" is normally not used by Singaporeans.
• Pace of business negotiations is rather slow normally.
• Normally, decisions are taken in group by a consensus.
• Do not give gifts in the formal dinners.
• When invited at homes, it is good to give gifts.
• Wrap the gift in wrappers of pleasant colors and hand it over with both the hands.
• Give the gift when you are departing.
• While receiving the gift, do not open it in front of the host.

(Also refer: http://executive-manners.blogspot.com/ for general etiquette and manners, http://dining-manners.blogspot.com/ dining etiquette and table manners, http://telephone-etiquette.blogspot.com/ for telephone etiquette, http://email-etiquette-manners.blogspot.com/ for email etiquette)

Books Suggested for your Professional, Organization's and Personal Library (all the titles below are available online from Amazon in paperbacks and as eBooks)

Business Management, Life Management, Self-help, Personality Development

1. HSoftware (Human Software) (The Only Key to Higher Effectiveness) 
2. Sensitive Stories of Corporate World (Management Case Studies) 
3. Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers 
4. Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers (Volume 2)
5. Classic Team Building Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers
6. 101 Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers (available only as a paperback)
7. Stress? No Way!! (Handbook on Stress Management) 
8. HSoftware (Shyam Bhatawdekar’s Effectiveness Model) 
9. Competency Management (Competency Matrix and Competencies) 
10. Essentials of Work Study (Method Study and Work Measurement) 
11. Essentials of Time Management (Taking Control of Your Life) 
12. Essentials of 5S Housekeeping 
13. Essentials of Quality Circles 
14. Essentials of Goal Setting 
15. Essentials of Anger Management 
16. Essentials of Assertive Behavior
17. Essentials of Performance Management and Performance Appraisal
18. Essentials of Effective Communication (soon to be published)
19. Health Essentials (Health is Wealth)
20. Soft Skills You Can't Do Without (Goal Setting, Time Management, Assertiveness and Anger Management)
21. The Romance of Intimacy (How to Enhance Intimacy in a Relationship?) 

Novels, Short Stories, Biographies and Travelogues

1. Good People (Dream of a Boundary Less World)- Novel, a refreshingly different love story (Also available under the title Love Knows No Bounds) 
2. The Peace Crusaders- a most intriguing novel
3. Two Novels in One Book (The Peace Crusaders and Love Knows No Bounds)
4. Funny (and Not So Funny) Short Stories 
5. Stories Children Will Love (Volume 1: Bhanu-Shanu-Kaju-Biju and Dholu Ram Gadbad Singh) 
6. My Father
7. Travelogue: Scandinavia, Russia
8. Travelogue: Europe