The Russian Federation has a population of 144.3 million people, a GDP of 1.283 trillion dollars, and 17.1 million square kilometers of land. It’s a culturally complex land rich in natural resources, and full of economic opportunities for local and foreign enterprises.
With the World Cup just around the corner, the world has its eyes on the Russian Federation. Perhaps, you are considering the possibility of expanding your business to the Russian market.
Here, we share a few tips to ease negotiation and ensure effective communication with your potential business allies.
1. Be patient and cordial
This advice is always relevant, but it is particularly relevant here. Russian business people tend to value friendliness and cordiality, and give themselves the necessary time to make business decisions calmly. Sometimes, after being asked a question, a Russian person might take a pause and, in silence, think of an answer. This is very common, even in professional settings.
It’s important to establish a close friendliness with your Russian business partners. A potential ally might invite you to сауна (a sauna), to have some light-hearted conversation and get to know you better. It’s also important to consider that a business partner will, most likely, expect and appreciate a gift characteristic of your culture.
2.Centralized leadership
In a previous blog post, we referred to several differences in leadership styles across cultures. In Russian companies, all decisions tend to rest on a single person who fulfills the role of a strong leader. This the person with whom a close relationship must be established. All decisions taken by those below them in the corporate structure will be made irrelevant if this person doesn’t approve of them.
3. Express yourself in a detailed, precise and straightforward manner
Russian people appreciate warmth and friendliness, while respecting straightforwardness, clarity, and precise expression. This upholding of clarity and precision is evident in the structures of the Russian language, from its grammar rules to the sort of linguistic constructions that Russian people tend towards.
4. Unless you’re in St. Petersburg or Moscow, an interpreter is not just preferable but absolutely necessary
If those with whom you’ll have a meeting, be they clients or distributors, are based in St. Petersburg or Moscow, it is safe to assume certain level of English proficiency, on their part. Of course, safer than to assume, it is to previously assess.
But, if the company you’re interested in doing business with is based elsewhere and/or works exclusively for the Slavic market, it’s most likely that an interpreter will be crucial to ensure clear, dynamic and effective communication.
If you’re in need of a mother tongue Russian interpreter highly trained in business interpreting and etiquette, you can rely on us. We provide high-quality, culturally-sensitive interpretation services either instantly, over the phone, or in person, within 24 hours of request.
Learn more about our interpretation services, in Russia and everywhere else.
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