Why American Corporations are Investing in Brazil

 Differences and similarities in culture between the US and Brazil Closeness to culture. According to Gartner's index, Brazil and U.S. businesses get along well culturally. In fact, Brazil usually scores "very good." Brazil is also open to new ideas because it is close to the U.S. and looks at the world as a whole. The fact that American and Brazilian culture share some stars in the music and movie industries helps.

Brazillese

Americans focus more on getting things done and less on people than Brazilians do. In Brazil, people do business by getting to know each other. They like to do business with people they know or who have been recommended to them by someone they trust. No matter what, you should make meetings at least two weeks ahead of time and confirm them two days before. Holidays and festivals, especially Carnaval, should not be used for business trips and meetings. Meetings can last a long time, and getting from one office to another can take a lot of time. Because of this, it makes sense to give each meeting two to three hours and to limit the number of visits you have each day to two or three. You can expect them to be canceled or moved around quickly. Deals this important don't usually happen over the phone or in the mail.

In some places, people aren't very concerned with being on time

In some places of Rio and São Paulo, meetings start on time, so this isn't the case. No matter what, when you schedule and show up for a meeting, it's best to be ready to be a little late and not get angry about it. When you walk into most offices, you'll be given a cafezinho, which means "little coffee." This is a usual way to welcome someone. North Americans get right to the point, but Brazilians take a moment to chat first. Small talk and a little investigation are both used. The visitor can be asked about their background, hobbies, mutual friends, or anything else that will help the Brazilian businessperson get a sense of who they are talking to. In businesses that deal with strangers all the time, the meeting might be held in English. Visitor from another country should remember to speak more slowly and in shorter sentences so that they are clearly heard. People in Brazil look the other person in the eyes when they talk. Some guests might find that annoying, but you shouldn't run away because you don't want to look like you have something to hide. Write down that the meeting will happen. There are times when meetings are canceled or changed at the last minute. If you have to wait, don't act like you can't wait. People in Brazil don't think they can control time, and relationships are more important to them than sticking to a strict plan. Meetings tend to be pretty casual. Do not get into fights with your Brazilian coworkers and do not look angry at them.

Some people will usually have to step out of the meeting to make it more interesting

Don't be shocked if the subject seems to slip off the table. People in Brazil can do more than one thing at once than people in the US. Also, just because someone leaves the meeting to answer the phone doesn't mean they don't care about what's being talked about. Visitors shouldn't be upset if they are cut off in the middle of a sentence during a talk. Brazilians often have more than one point of view. In fact, the more interested they are in a subject, the more they will talk about it and the louder it will get. Brazilians usually avoid straight arguments and would rather show disagreement in a more roundabout way. Brazilians like to think things through carefully and don't rush through talks until they're ready to end, no matter what time it is. Family is very important in Brazil because it is a socialist country. In fact, the family is more important than the bottom line. Because of this, it is usual for more than one family member to work in the same business. The way Brazilians organize their extended families gives them safety and networking possibilities.

The US people

When it comes to getting things done, the Americans are much better. Because they want to reach a goal at work, they give up their social lives. These people don't talk about nothing in meetings; instead, they only talk about business matters the whole time. Americans also like things to be clear, and they don't like it when people avoid saying what they really want to say just to be nice. 

People value someone who gets right to the point more than someone who talks a lot 

They want to be clear, and it doesn't matter if it sounds rude or not. Being vague or not clear could be seen as rude or not telling the truth. In the U.S., being honest is the best thing to do. Because Americans respect honesty, they hate bribes, kickbacks, and other illegal ways to get something done. To get ahead in the U.S., it really is easier to follow the rules than to break them. In America, reason is more important than feeling. In the American business world, men and women are equal. Because of this, it is proper to treat the female partners with the same care as the male partners. People from other countries should not talk about religion or politics with Americans because they are touchy subjects. People in the US are interested in things like money, sports, current events, business and market trends, and fun things to do. These are safe things that anyone from outside of the US can talk about with an American coworker.