Relationships & Communication

The Portuguese prefer to conduct business with people they feel at ease with, which is to say, people they are confident in. Therefore, it is suggested that the initial introduction be made by a mutual contact. Be prepared to spend a lot of time cultivating the relationship. Face-to-face interactions are preferred by the Portuguese over written or telephone contact, which is viewed as being overly impersonal.

Once discussions have begun, the relationship-building process must start over if you switch representatives or team members. It's crucial that you respect your coworkers in the workplace and avoid putting them in a bad light. Formal communication is conducted according to precise protocol.

During a presentation, your Portuguese business associates will wait until you are done speaking before asking questions or seeking clarification. Even if they are truthful, Portuguese people prefer to keep quiet when it is in their best interests to do so. The Portuguese can be expressive while welcoming friends, despite not using hand gestures or passionate speech.

You might want to restrict your behavior if you frequently make hand gestures while speaking because it could be mistakenly interpreted as being excessively demonstrative. Portugal has a hierarchical culture that honors rank and age. Respect people in positions of authority and keep written communications official.

If your Portuguese colleagues break their promises, do not be alarmed. Compared to people from many other cultures, they have a more relaxed attitude toward time and do not place as much importance on deadlines. Even if you believe it to be justified, they do not welcome forthright criticism.