ITALIAN FOR BUSINESS: MAKE THE MOST OF NEGOTIATIONS

Has your company started doing business in Italy? This is good news! Internationalising sales can be a great proposition, but have you already started negotiating in Italian? If not, your company may well be losing points. Italians value the convenience of speaking their language. So, if you want to make the most of meetings, why not introduce business Italian and secure a few points? Here’s how to get the most out of negotiations with business Italian!

Learning Italian for business and negotiation

When doing business with Italy, speaking the language of the country is a great advantage. That’s why it’s a good idea to overcome this problem by learning Italian in order to get better results: Italians appreciate it when you can speak their language in business conversations. Moreover, considering that Italy is a major trading partner for Spain, you will certainly want to make a good impression. Therefore, in order to be successful in meetings and negotiations with Italians, in addition to manners and dress, you should also consider having employees learn business Italian to make your business partners feel more comfortable.

Negotiations in Italy: Do’s and Don’ts

Of course, as in every country, there will be traditions and cultural aspects that must be taken into account if you want to succeed in business meetings. The Italian market is not as exploited as others and is a very good place to get clients. Knowing this, it is in your interest to take care of every aspect of negotiations with Italian partners.

Actions to be taken

One of the most important points to respect when negotiating with Italians is language. But, at the same time, it is just as important to take care of cultural aspects and traditions so that your potential partners see you as someone they can trust. That is why it is important that you know how to choose Italian courses for companies that teach, among other things, how to manage business meetings. If you want your meetings to be successful, don’t forget:

• The language: as we said, communicating in Italian is very important when doing business with Italian companies, as it conveys enthusiasm and interest. Take care of your relations with Italy by learning with a good Italian course for companies.
• Punctuality: even though Italians are not known for being punctual, it is a quality that is highly valued in foreign visitors who wish to do business.
• Approachability and enthusiasm: at the beginning of meetings it is customary to take a few minutes to get to know the person, chat about something other than business, build a bond and create trust. You can talk about art, culture, even your family or friends, while being warm.
• Speak with respect: as much as Italians are warm, it is important not to forget respect, to take care of the language so that it is not too informal and to express yourself with respect and sincerity.

What to avoid when negotiating in Italian

While Italians are generally simple and welcoming people, there are certain attitudes that you should not have in a business meeting, as they can cause friction. This is something that you and your employees can learn by choosing good in-company Italian courses that teach you the cultural aspects of how to handle yourself in business Italy. Some of the things you should not do are:

• Stretch out silences: Italians are people who value enthusiasm and motivation, like most southern European countries. Creating silences that are too long or being reserved can be frowned upon and interpreted as a lack of enthusiasm.
• Wearing a plain suit: Italians love good manners and a formal interlocutor. Even if it is hot or you feel better in a shirt, wear a suit or dress that is appropriate for negotiations.
• Refusing invitations to lunch: Italy is a country where business and food almost always go hand in hand. It is interesting not to turn down the offer if the opportunity arises to have lunch with the partner, as this predisposition is highly valued.

Not speaking Italian: Italians greatly appreciate those who can communicate in their language, especially if they are potential business partners. It is therefore a good idea to introduce employees to Italian for business and make the most of negotiations with Italians.

Italian for business: your plus point

As we have seen, mastering negotiations with Italian firms requires knowledge of a number of important cultural aspects, in addition to mastering the language. If your company trades or wants to trade with Italy, it is important to have Italian speakers. At Classgap for Enterprise we have customised Italian language courses for companies to make your negotiations in Italy a success. Contact us and let’s get started!