Small Business Today Magazine MAR 2015 IMPACT STONE DESIGN | Page 19
EDITORIALFEATURE
In terms of language, English is
widely spoken in the business
community and in government
offices, but knowing and using
a few Hebrew words, especially
introductory phrases and
greetings, can be useful.
Hebrew and Arabic are the two
official languages of Israel.
English is the third and
principal international language
and Russian is also prevalent.
Most Israelis are multilingual.
Appointments can be made on a fairly short
notice; however, reconfirming appointments is
advised, especially since most Israelis tend to have
busy schedules. Since Israeli society has gone
through multiple wars, time has become something that should be both valued and enjoyed.
This view manifests itself in different ways. On
the one hand, time is important. Israelis want to
get things done quickly. There is usually a sense of
urgency when they are working. Consequently,
business lunches are not the norm as they take
too long and are inefficient in the Israeli mind. On
the other hand, when it comes to time after work,
Israelis are much more laid back. Usually dinner is
a better opportunity to socialize and get to know
your counterpart.
Israelis arrive well prepared for meetings so it’s
important to provide your hosts with an agenda outlining your objectives in advance. An exchange of business cards is common although
some may be less alerted by this relatively new
practice in Israel. Therefore, provide your business card early on and be sure to have one side
translated into Hebrew to show respect. Politely
request a business card in return. If not offered,
don’t be offended if your counterpart does not
have one.
Business Hours are Sunday through Thursday
from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM for most businesses
and government offices. Fridays are kept for private activities; however Israelis will participate in
business activities on Friday mornings if necessary.
Israelis are very direct, straightforward people. This type of direct communication has been
known to cause misunderstandings to those unfamiliar with it. Very often, Westerners mistake Is-
raeli directness for rudeness. This is not the case at
all. Israelis just view it as speaking honestly. Israelis
by and large express their emotions more than
Westerners. It is not at all uncommon to see an
Israeli yelling at a colleague one minute and then
laughing with them the next. This may not be the
case in a high-level business meeting, due to the
stakes involved, but it is an aspect of the culture
that must be considered and not misinterpreted.
Despite their direct business demeanor and
emphasis on doing things quickly, Israelis are a
very warm people. Their warmth can be seen
in their way of address. Typically an Israeli will address someone by Mr. or Mrs. followed by the
person’s first name. You should reciprocate like
this when you address them. This will help build
rapport. Also Israelis stand closer to their counterparts than most Americans do.
Although Israelis share many characteristics of
Western culture, there are still many exceptions.
While direct eye contact is maintained much like
in the U.S., handshakes are not as common. You
must not be offended if your Israeli counterpart
does not shake your hand. Nevertheless, physical
contact is employed more in Israel than in the
U.S. so don’t be surprised if someone places their
hand on your shoulder when they are speaking
to you. Once they get to know you, don’t be
surprised if you are greeted with a hug or a kiss
on the cheek, regardless if you are male or female!
As with all cultures, certain subjects can be
broached while others should be avoided. Family
is important to Israelis and the topic is a good
one for conversation. They will probably inquire
about your family as well so you should be prepared for this. However, the two subjects that
should be avoided are the Holocaust and the
Arab-Israeli conflict. If they come up in conversation, it is best not to comment on them or offer
opposing opinions.
Israeli culture is an interesting mix of East and
West. Nevertheless, with a modicum of research
and cultural sensitivity, you can certainly succeed
while doing business with the Israelis.
As a graduate of the Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship at
the University of Houston, Ludmila (Mila) Rusakova Golovine,
Founder, CEO, and President of MasterWord Services, Inc., started her company with a vision of seamlessly connecting people
across any language, any time, and any culture. She can be
reached by email at [email protected], by phone at
281-589-0810, or visit her website at www.masterword.com.
[ MARCH 2015 ] www.SBTMagazine.net 17