During the first business meeting with a potential partner, Finns shake hands and introduce themselves at the same time. They first give their first name and then their surname.

Finnish society can generally be characterised as egalitarian, i.e. formal insignia such as titles, degrees and ranks are not important. This does not mean, however, that Finns do not pay attention to these thin...

In Finnish business practice, it is customary to exchange business cards during introductions at the first meeting, as well as at events, conferences and forums.

In addition to the standard information usually found on a business card, you can also indicate your academic degree on the card. This is in principle a fairly accepted practice. However, during your subsequent contacts, do not...

Small talk with your Finnish partner is likely to be quite short, perhaps even very short, especially at the beginning of a business relationship.

Finns sometimes criticise themselves for their inability to small talk easily, but they actually spend very little time on small talk and go straight to discussing business matters.

However, as business contacts continue and co-oper...

Sport is a favourite topic of discussion in Finnish society, especially winter sports, including skiing, speed skating and, of course, ice hockey. Many Finns have been ice-skating since childhood, they go skiing with their families on weekends and, of course, play ice hockey.

Finns are passionate fans, they root for their teams and are proud of those players who are invited by famous ic...

Finnish people separate personal and professional spheres, so they may not be ready to support the conversation if it is about, for example, family, personal preferences and spending time with friends and relatives, etc.

In the course of communication, foreign businessmen should also not touch upon the topics of health, well-being, welfare, salary, or any money issues in general. ...

The comfortable speaking distance in Finnish society is about or even more than 1 metre. It does not matter whether the participants in a conversation are men or women, acquaintances or strangers, natives or foreigners. With the latter, however, the distance can be even a little longer.

Make sure that this distance does not decrease throughout the conversation. Do not violate personal ...

In Finnish society, direct and frank communication is the norm. As a rule, people say what they think without trying to express their thoughts in any allegorical form.

While Finns generally have a direct communication style, they refrain from making harsh remarks or judgments that are too direct. They value politeness and tact, and in any discussion they will try not to put the other pe...