Italy
- Failing to Dress Appropriately: Italians take great pride in their appearance; a well-tailored suit is often expected in business environments.
- Ignoring the Extended Lunch Break: It is common for businesses to close in the afternoon for a long lunch. Planning meetings during this time can be seen as disrespectful.
- Lack of Gestures: Italians are expressive communicators. A lack of gestures can sometimes be perceived as a lack of passion or engagement.
- Being Highly Time-Conscious: While punctuality is appreciated, meetings often start a little late and run longer than expected.
- Overlooking Formal Introductions: Formal introductions are essential, and skipping over them can seem dismissive.