Polandđź•Ł
State in Central Europe. Official name – Republic of Poland. Population – 37.8 million (as of April 2021). Capital – Warsaw. Official language – Polish. Government type – parliamentary republic. Main religion – Catholicism.
Poland
Greeting
At the beginning of a negotiation or business meeting, you should shake hands with everyone present, both high-ranking and lower-ranking people in the hierarchical structure. The greeting of a senior person should not differ from a junior person's. Poles are generally in favor of egalitarian working relationships.
The handshake, which is traditionally strong in Poland, is accompanied by a verbal greeting - in Polish Dzien Dobry (Good morning / Good afternoon), Dobry wieczĂłr (Good evening). When greeting your partner, it is important to maintain direct eye contact.
During the first meeting, your Polish partner is likely to be polite and rather reserved. Polish society has a somewhat formal way of dealing with people you do not know. When addressing people you do not know, use your partner's surname rather than their first name.
As your business relationship develops, your communication style with Polish colleagues will become less formal and, even at the greeting stage, more warm and emotional.
If there are women among Polish colleagues, men should greet them first, with a preference for older women. Then you can move on to greeting the men.
Light kisses on the cheek are possible both between women and between men and women, but only if they are relatives or close friends. Such light kisses are exchanged when saying goodbye. Men, even those who have known each other for a long time and know each other well, greet each other with handshakes.
In situations of official business communication, even within the framework of long-term business contacts, it is customary to address each other by surname. Wait until your partner suggests you call him or her by his or her first name.
Introduction
In business contacts, a certain formality in communication is customary, which you see primarily in the use of surnames rather than first names when addressing people. Young people, however, prefer a less formal style and sometimes even insist on being addressed by their first name. If you are not familiar with the situation in general and do not know the people, it is better to stick to the fo...
Exchange of Business Cards
The exchange of business cards is an indispensable part of business etiquette in Poland. As a rule, business cards are exchanged at the beginning of a business meeting.
In addition to the standard information about you - company name, position, contacts - it is not uncommon in Poland to include academic degrees and/or titles, as well as other possible professional and/or official regali...
Small Talk: Overview
An important element of business practice in Poland is personal relationships between partners. Try to invest enough time in their development.
In the early stages of developing contacts, your Polish colleague is likely to behave in a rather reserved and formal manner, sticking to the general rules of protocol and business etiquette.
Typical features of communication at the ini...
Preferred Topics
Food, Polish cuisine.
Nature and beauty of the country, sights.
Sports topics, especially football and the national football team, which Poles are proud of.
Current events, business news, economic issues.
Poland's economic growth.
Family, but refrain from making any comments on what your Polish interlocutor will share.
Names or angel days. Many Po...
Taboo Topics
Religious topics in general should be avoided. The Catholic Church in Poland (85.8% of the population is Catholic) still has a significant influence on people's lives. However, religion is a very personal area, so you should avoid talking about it.
Regardless of your religious views, it is not a good idea to be critical of any religious traditions, church practices, or rituals.
Personal Space
The comfortable speaking distance in Poland is somewhat shorter than in other European countries, especially in central and northern Europe, where the usual comfort zone of people speaking is an arm's length or slightly longer.
Try not to increase the distance between you and your partner during communication, for example by taking a step back. Your interlocutor may feel uncomfortable....
Communication Specifics
Establishing relationships is important in Polish business culture. Polite, discreet, attentive, serious, sincere behavior will be appreciated by your Polish colleague and will lay the foundations for effective joint work.
Communication in Polish society is what specialists name “high context”. This means that your interlocutor's speech may contain hidden meanings or hints that you may ...
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