Colombia

Greetings

Men greeting Men: - Men shake hands when greeting one another and maintain direct eye contact. At a first meeting a handshake will suffice. Handshakes tend to be somewhat firm. Among friends and family members, a light hug is common. Young boys sometimes do kiss their elders (father, grandfather, uncle) on the cheek, but usually only until they are 8 -10 years old, and not in all families.

Women greeting Women: In a business environment and when it is the very first time they meet, women greet with a soft handshake. However depending on how comfortable they feel or how open a person they are, they might give one kiss on the cheek. Among friends and family a kiss on the cheek is very common.

Greetings between Men and Women: When you meet someone of the opposite sex for the very first time, a handshake is the norm, especially in a business/working environment. However a large percentage of people (men and women) will greet with a single kiss on the cheek. For greeting colleagues and people that you see every day, you do not always shake hands or kiss, seeing them every day becomes so normal, that you just greet collectively saying “Hi, how are you?” and do not go around to each desk to kiss of shake hands.

Communication Style

• Colombians tend to take a more indirect over direct path when communicating. Many people care what others might think or how they might react, so they are usually careful not to offend.
• In business situations people may be more direct, but in formal and social environments, people will usually take the indirect path.
• People tend to speak relatively loudly. On the Caribbean coast of Colombia, people tend to speak even louder.
• When a group of people is speaking, there is rather low consideration for guaranteeing that every person has the same chance to speak. Normally the conversation tends to be “dominated” by those who speak up, and normally there is no invitation for the “shy ones” to join in.

• “Please” (por favor) and “Thanks” (gracias) are important words. Colombians use them almost automatically, and not using them is considered rude.

Personal Space & Touch

• Colombians tend to be comfortable standing relatively close to one another while talking. Less than an arm’s length is normal. It can be considered rude to back up or away from someone while they are speaking.

• Colombians tend to be very expressive while talking; they use their hands and arms quite a bit. In formal and business environment touching is not usually accepted, but it can be more common among friends and family.

• Touching is usually used to show a feeling (a hug, a kiss, a caress) or to get the other person’s attention or if you want to reinforce a special point. You might briefly touch the other’s arm or shoulder and in few cases the knee, if you are sitting close to each other.

Eye Contact

• Direct eye contact is acceptable and very common; actually it’s very strange and uncomfortable when you talk to a person that is not making eye contact with you. This applies in all cases, family and work.
• Often times, indirect eye contact is used when feeling guilty or ashamed towards someone.
• It’s best to approach and start a proper conversation, rather than making eye contact with someone you do not know at all.

Gestures

• Colombians are somewhat formal and appreciate correct posture and sophisticated mannerisms.
• Beckoning or pointing with the index finger is considered bad form. Using your whole hand with the palm facing down is the way to go. Pointing with your mouth (ie.putting your lips together as if you are going to kiss) is acceptable as well.
• Try to avoid yawning and be sure to cover your mouth with a hand if you do yawn. Same goes with coughing and sneezing.
• To say someone is crazy, you make small circles with index finger next to your head (close to your ear).
• Thumbs up is used to say things are ok, or that you like something.
• For saying “I do not know” or even “I do not care” you bring your shoulders and eyebrows up simultaneously.
• For expressing “I lost” or “I have problems” put your index and middle fingers together and tap the side of your neck one or two times.
• When demonstrating the height of something, be aware that holding the palm face down is reserved for animals. For people, hold the palm sideways with the thumb on top.

Views of Time

• In social situations even if punctuality is valued, extreme punctuality is not expected. It’s not considered rude to be late, especially if “late” is not longer that 30 -45 minutes, however “good” excuses are appreciated.
• When doing business and in general in a working environment, people tend to be more punctual, or let’s say it this way: “people feel worse or stress out more” when arriving late. The normal time span you can affords someone is around 15 minutes compared to the 45 minutes for social situations.

• It's a good idea to call before if you know you will be late, especially if the person you will meet is very important to you (e.g. a client, someone that will interview you for a job, etc.). On the other hand when the person you will meet is lower ranking, it’s normal not to feel bad making them wait for you.

Gender Roles

• Colombia is predominantly a male chauvinist society. In the mind of the majority of Colombians, the main associations of women are as “mother”, “taking care of the home”, “ talking care of the children”, etc.
• In the upper and middle-upper social classes, women are raised and educated with the same standards and opportunities as men and a good percentage of them reach university and even post-graduate studies, which make them eligible to work and to have important positions.
• In the lower and middle-lower classes, men to be even more male chauvinist, some men even forbid their women to work, and since many women don’t have a formal education, they do not see any other option than staying home.

• While infidelity in men, even if in theory, is not accepted or encouraged openly, in reality it is viewed as expected behavior. Infidelity in women on the other hand, is looked down upon heavily and a women seen having an active strong social life is viewed as someone who does not take enough care of their homes and children.

• It is not appropriate for women to be extremely drunk or losing self-control at parties or social events.

• Local men can be somewhat aggressive in their pursuit of foreign women. Women who are firm yet somewhat friendly in rejecting these advances tend to gain the respect of men.

Taboos

• Making an O.K. sign and then placing it over your nose signifies that someone is a homosexual.
• Using your two fingers to indicate length of something is an obscene gesture. Instead, extend your right arm and use your left hand to mark off distance.
• Avoid making jokes about drugs, or drug consumption as they will not be taken likely. For Colombians it’s not a taboo to talk about this issue, but be sure to approach it as a serious conversation, not as a stereotyped joke.

• Homosexuality is not widely accepted or understood, especially by older generations. If you are homosexual, it might be best to keep a low profile.

Law & Order

• The legal drinking and smoking age is 18, but it is not heavily enforced.
• Being in possession of small quantities of drugs is highly illegal and usually results in serious jail time for foreigners. If you are caught trying to take drugs in or out of the country, it is an automatic lengthy jail sentence.

Dress

• Colombians value being well dressed and nicely groomed. The inland cities are more formal than the coastal towns. Dress with class.
• For Men: Suit with a tie, preferable dark colors, and proper matching shoes and belt. No bow tie, as this is old-fashion and it’s usually associated with a waiter’s uniform. Hair properly cut is important, long hair (unless you are in the show biz, or you are in the arts business) is looked upon very favorably. Same applies to earrings, in one or both of the ears. In warmer climates, short sleeves shirts with trousers and no tie or jacket is usually acceptable
• For Women: Business suit or a business-casual outfit. If wearing a skirt, avoid very short ones and it’s best to use natural color pantyhose. Closed-toe shoes or boots are appropriate, avoid sandals. Women also wear accessories, like earrings, chains, rings, watch, etc. Hair must be styled, straight preferred, and make up always gives a good impression (although may women like rather strong make up, vivid colors). Manicured nails are important; softer colors for the nail polish are better, but many
• Jeans and business casual attire are a no-no inland but may be appropriate on the coast. Tennis shoes and sneakers are to be avoided.

Titles & Business Cards

• Titles are very important and it is best to address people directly by using their professional title only. Common titles are as follows:

• Doctor [surname] or Doctora (for female) [surname]: it’s usually the case clear that those you call “doctor(a)” is a doctor (PhD) or studied medicine; still we use “doctor(a)” to address people to show respect and acknowledge his/her importance within an organization.

• Seňor [name or surname] Seňora (for female) [name or surname]: “Seňor(a)” means Mr(s). It’s less sophisticated than “doctor” but still formal.

• Don [name] Doňa (for female) [name]: Don(ňa) is never to be used before the surname, only use it with the first name. This is used less, especially in business; it is a bit old-fashion, but still common.

• It’s important to have business cards, as it is a sign of credibility. There is no specific ritual surrounding the giving of business cards although it is advisable to treat the card with respect.

Meetings

• Arriving on time for meetings is important even though you may be kept waiting up to a half an hour or so.

• Small talk is always used as a starter of meetings, usually for the first 15 minutes. Depending of the time available this “ice-breaking” time can be longer or shorter.

• If a foreigner meets a Colombian, it’s highly likely that one of the starting conversations will be about and how the foreigner likes the country or not (especially if it’s his/her first time), and his/her impressions and some comparisons with his/her home country.

• Normally the host offers something to drink, traditionally coffee, tea, herbal infusions (Colombians refer to these as “aromaticas”), water or soda. It’s ok to accept it or not, and it’s also ok to ask for more. For longer meetings, something to eat may be served. In both cases, it’s ok to reject it, if you do not want to eat it for any reason.

• Normally you greet whoever is closer to you, first. For example if you enter a board room with a group of people, you do not need to walk to the host to greet him/her first and then walk back to greet the rest of people.

• The business discussion can be started by the host or by the visitor, one criteria to define who should start is who has something to show, for example, who brought a proposal, or who prepared a report, etc.

• Meetings are usually ended by the host, but it’s not considered rude if as the invitee after the stipulated period of time you have to go and you express it, as long you make a good closing.

• Meetings can go on for longer than scheduled. Be patient and go with the flow.

• Do not expect a decision to be reached during the first meeting. Expect several.

Negotiations

• Honesty is important in negotiations, in terms of price and in terms of other conditions of the product/service you are offering.
• In general, even if Colombians take an indirect path when communicating, when it comes down to business, being direct (yet considering the other party’s opinion) is appreciated. However, bargaining can happen and decision-making might take time, especially if it’s a high value product/service that will affect the entire organization.
• One key is to set negotiation meetings with the decision makers. If you are a foreigner and you justify that you will be in only for limited time, this might help to catalyze the process of getting an appointment with the right person. This is not that easy many times, since those decision makers tend to meet people (vendors, suppliers, etc) only when other low ranking staff has already met with them. In this sense, it can be considered bureaucratic. This tends to applies to larger organizations in particular.
• It’s not taboo to show emotion when negotiating, especially if it’s a genuine feeling and you are just being transparent about what you think, that’s ok, as long as you remain respectful. Colombians tend to value passionate people.
• Colombians can become animated when negotiating, be sure to not mistake this aggression.
• When negotiations are finished, be sure to return to the small talk for a bit before leaving.

Gift Giving

• Gifts are not usually expected at initial meetings but are appreciated. If bringing a gift be sure it is a modest one.

• Gifts are normally wrapped (the nicer the better) and its fine to open them in public.

• If a Colombian gives a present, they might like to hear the other’s first impressions on the gift “selected” for the foreigner, but if the recipient wants to keep it and open for him/herself later, that’ s fine.

• In the case of receiving a wrapped present d from a larger group of people (say the staff under you) and if the environment is informal - they might start saying “Open it, Open it”. In this case it’s nice if you open it, as not doing so might be rude.

• If invited to a Colombian’s house, it is appropriate to bring flowers (avoid lilies and marigolds as they mean death), fine wine, fruit, and/or chocolates.

In the Classroom

• In the case of universities, they work by semester. A traditional undergrad study takes 5 years (10 semesters). Semesters go from Jan to June/July and from August to November/December. July/August and December/January are normally vacation time, but many students take advantage of some vacation courses available, either because they want graduate faster or in other cases because they need to repeat them.

• In general, students like to dress comfortable for university, no matter in which region/climate of you are, or if you study in a private or public university. Jeans are the most common as are T-shirts, blouses, jackets, shirts of all kinds, depending on the weather.

• Some universities have their own tacit “dressing culture/code”, it’s not written anywhere, but it’s very evident. In the warmer cities, girls for instance, tend to dress “fancier”, their hair is very stylish, they wear make up, and sandals with high heels.

• Many universities do have a uniform, especially departments such as medicine, dentistry, education, and others

• Grades are from 1 to 5, with being 5 the highest. You fail with any grade under 3.0. However this failing grade might be higher (3.5) in some universities.

• The most common form of teaching is lecture. However, more and more universities and programs are incorporating debates, presentations, labs, field work, case studies, and other non-traditional techniques. It depends a lot on the teacher and the nature of the course/subject.