Three things make a good first impression: (1) a warm smile and looking the person straight in the eye, making solid and sincere eye contact, (2) a strong handshake, and (3) a classy business card. In some cultures, especially Asian cultures, business cards are so important that they are given with a bow in a ceremonial way. Then they are organized on the table in front of the person in the order of hierarchy with the most prominent businessman at the top of the cards.

There is great care and respect given to the placement of the cards on the table. They are not casually put away in the pocket. Instead they stay on the table in plain view throughout the entire meeting. You will find this cultural standard in Japan, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, and Singapore. Not only do you leave the business cards that you receive exposed on the table in front of you, you are also expected to use the proper language of politeness to address those persons at the meeting that have superior positions.

The actual words you choose to speak to them is different than the way you are allowed to address the lower persons on the staff. For example in Japanese, you might say the English equivalent of “I understand” which in Japanese is “Wakari Mashita” to a mid-level managers, but if the upper level management is at the same table like the CEO or any member of the Corporate board you would choose to say “Naru Hodo” which is the English equivalent of “I see. Or Is that so?” Both phrases essentially mean “I understand” but one is much more sophisticated than the other. You choice of phrase signifies you understand the levels of hierarchy for whom you are addressing.

In the US, Canada, and Europe, the giving of business cards is more casual. You give them casually, and others who receive them put them in their pockets simply for later reference. It is more important that the information of how to communicate be transferred from one person to the other, than the need to establish social hierarchy. This does not me that social hierarchy is not established by the business card. It most definitely is.

After observing many billionaires, up close and personal, in business meetings in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. The richest guys in the world have very similar traits. Such as: (1) they never carry anything with them personally that is visible to others (like a briefcase), (2) they never hand out or receive business cards (they leave this to their assistants), (3) if they feel the need to give a contact number to a person, they have a very few special cards in their pocket which only say their name and nothing more.

They give these to people that they want (temporarily) to be able to contact them and they hand write their current private contact number which may only last for a few months at best. The idea being, if you are important enough you will have made contact with the billionaire, and you will always get their new ever-changing private number directly from the rich guys. Unfortunately for guys that aspire to climb the corporate success ladder these special business cards, handed out by billionaires with their private numbers on them, are usually only given to the prettiest girls in the room.

Author Bio: Hendrik is a known author for career advice and fashion tips. He is also the founder of online tie store: Ties-Necktie.com, there is also a useful dress code guide and a Blog on Mens Fashion

Category: Etiquette
Keywords: mens ties, ties-necktie.com, career advice, mens fashion tips