the economist on san francisco business etiquette

Influx Insights — 2008-05-19T00:35:12Z

It's great to see The Economist try its hand at giving advice for businessmen traveling to San Francisco.

It reads a little like a field manual for a new potentially hostile territory.

Here's what they say about meeting etiquette.

"Meetings and greetings

• It is important to both start and end appointments on time. If you’re driving between San Francisco and Silicon Valley, add 20% to your travel time and always take highway 280 over highway 101 if you can—it is usually faster and always prettier. When possible, schedule your meetings between 10am and 3pm to avoid rush hours.

• Don’t be offended if people neglect to shake your hand or take your business card in large business meetings. Americans (and Californians) are more informal than you may be used to.

• Having said that, carry as many business cards as possible, after making room for all the newest high-tech gadgets.

• Be generous with your contacts. People here will remember and reward you if you give them the name of someone who may prove profitable and interesting for them to meet.

• Put your mobile phone on silent during meetings and only take a call if it is truly urgent. Best practice is to warn your interlocutor ahead of time that you may need to break for a call.

• If you are responsible for only part of a larger presentation it is not considered rude to leave after your part (including the question-and-answer session) is over.

• Resist your natural modesty. Promoting yourself and your company is expected. Just be gracious about it.

• For better or worse, Americans are an optimistic people. As the old song goes: “accentuate the positive.” Everyone else will."

The last two points are especially important for the Brits, who tend to spend a lot of time doing exactly the opposite.

Posted by Ed Cotton

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the economist on san francisco business etiquette