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Chile |
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Facts and Statistics
Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru Capital: Santiago Population: 15,980,912 (July 2005 est.) Ethnic Groups: white and white-Amerindian 95%, Amerindian 3%, other 2% Religions: Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 11%, Jewish NEGL% |
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Language in Chile
Spanish in the official language of Chile. There are also quite a few indigenous languages such as Mapudungun (spoken between the Itata and Tolten rivers) and Aymara (spoken in the mountains of the north). Chilean Culture & Society Religion . Most Chileans are Roman Catholics. . The religion has played a large role in defining social and political life. . Religious instruction in public schools is almost exclusively Roman Catholic. Abortion is actually illegal due to the influence of the Church. . Divorce was illegal until 2004. . Most national holidays are religious in nature. . Chileans of more mature generations still celebrate their saint's day as much as they do their own birthday. The Role of the Family . The family occupies a central role in Chilean life. . Extended families are very close and will frequently congregate for major occasions and celebrations. . Family and business are intertwined to the extent that nepotism is seen as a positive concept. . Many small firms will be 100% family run. Class Structure . Chilean history has had a large influence on modern day class lines. . Generally speaking, class in drawn along financial lines. . Today's wealthiest class are more or less the same land owning families of before. . A middle class has developed of late and now accounts for nearly a half of the population. Classes are fluid and it is possible to move either upwards or downwards depending on your salary. Social Profiling . Due to class structures it is commonplace for people to try and deduce another's position in the social rank. . This is primarily done through external appearances, i.e. dress, etc. . As a result they present themselves in the best possible way. Etiquette and Customs in Chile Meeting & Greeting . Men will usually shake hands. . Women generally pat each other on the right forearm or shoulder. . These are always accompanied by the appropriate greeting for the time of day - "buenos dias" (good morning), "buenas tardes" (good afternoon) or "buenas noches"(good evening). . Between friends and family things will relax and become more unreserved - men may embrace and energetically pat each other on the back whilst women will kiss once on the right cheek. . Always let your Chilean counterpart progress to this stage of formality. . Like many South Americans, Chileans use both their maternal and paternal surnames. The father's surname is listed first and is the one used in conversation. . If you know of any titles always try to use them. . If no title exists then simply use "Senor" (male) or "Senora" (female) followed by the surname. . When addressing older people with whom you have a personal relationship, who may be referred to as "don" (male) or "dona" (female) with their first name. . First names are used between close friends - wait until invited to move to a first name basis. Gift Giving Etiquette Gifts are usually given for birthdays and Christmas. Some general etiquette guidelines include: . If invited to a Chilean's home, take sweets/chocolates or wine for the hostess. . Send flowers in advance. . Do not give yellow roses as they indicate contempt. . Do not give purple or black flowers as they symbolize death. . Do not give scissors or knives as they indicate you want to sever the relationship. . For a young girl's 15th birthday, a gift of gold jewellery is the norm. . Gifts are opened when received. Dining Etiquette . Dining etiquette can be quite formal in Chile. . As a general rule, observe and follow if ever unsure. . Here are some basic dining etiquette guidelines: - When sitting wait to be shown to your place. - Women sit before men. - The hostess invites people to eat. - Keep your hands visible when eating. Keep your wrists resting on the edge of the table. - Always use utensils to eat. - Avoid speaking with eating utensils in your hands. - It is considered polite to finish everything on your plate. - Wait for a toast to be made before taking the first sip of your drink. - The host makes the first toast. - The most common toast is "Salud!" - When you lift your glass, look at the person being toasted. - Pour wine with the right hand only. Business Etiquette and Protocol in Chile Meeting and Greeting . Chileans like an element of formality in all they do. . A firm handshake accompanied with a smile and appropriate greeting is normal in a business setting. . Direct eye contact is important. . Some women may not shake hands with men, although this is becoming less common. . Chileans stand very close when conversing. . Always use surnames and titles - wait to be invited to use someone's first name. . Business cards are exchanged on the initial meeting at the very start. . Try and have one side translated into Spanish. . Keep cards in good condition - a tatty card will reflect badly on you. Business Meetings . Chile has a relationship driven culture so initial meetings should be used to build a relationship and establish trust. Devote time to non-business discussions and wait for the other party to initiate the change in topic. . Pay attention to hand movements - gestures change in meaning across cultures. . It is common to interrupt someone while they are speaking. . Meetings are not always linear in their progression. Schedules are not very structured and issues can be tackled all at the same time. . It is important to be patient as time is not of the essence in Chile - meetings will last as long as they need to last. . Remember that decisions are not made at meetings so it is important to provide all necessary information during the meeting. . Chileans are generally indirect in their communication styles, but can become very animated and assertive when if they get emotional. . Communication styles tend to be tuned to people's s feelings. Confrontation is generally avoided in order not to jeopardize another's honour or dignity - it may therefore be necessary to read between the lines in order to fully understand what is really meant. . Never openly criticize anyone. Being a Manager in Chile The business set up in Chile is very formal and cross cultural management will be more successful if you err on the side of being overly formal and conservative rather than jeopardize a potential business relationship because you were too informal and appeared flippant. For the most part, Chileans are formal in their business dealings, at least until a personal relationship has been developed. Good manners and proper etiquette are seen as a sign of good breeding. It is a good idea to have a wide range of contacts. This is a country where knowing the right person is often more important than what you know. Interpersonal relationships, including loyalty to family and friends, are essential to business success. The Role of a Manager Cross cultural communication will be more effective when managing in Chile, if you keep it in mind that each person has a very distinct role within the organization. People believe that their supervisors have been chosen because they have more experience than those they manage, and it is, therefore, unnecessary, and even inappropriate for them to consult with lower-ranking individuals when decision-making. In Chile, as in other hierarchical societies, managers may take a somewhat paternalistic attitude to their employees. They may demonstrate a concern for employees that goes beyond the workplace and strictly professional concerns. This may include involvement in their family, housing, health, and other practical life issues. Approach to Change Chile’s intercultural adaptability and readiness for change is apparent although changes are still made slowly, requiring a considerable amount of thought, planning and evaluation. It would be perceived as imprudent to introduce rapid change, and yet it would be recognized as poor management to resist change unnecessarily. Cross cultural sensitivity is important with Chile’s attitude toward risk dramatically impacted by the negative ramifications of failure on both the individual and the group. Approach to Time and Priorities Deadlines and timescales are fluid in Chile. Patience will play an essential part in successful cross cultural management. While timescales and deadlines need to be set well in advance and reiterated carefully, it should be understood that these will be viewed as flexible. Successful cross cultural management may require some degree of patience. Global and intercultural expansion means that some managers may have a greater appreciation of the need to enforce timescales and as such, agreed deadlines are more likely to be met. Decision Making Decisions are reached at the top of the company, often after seeking input from all the stakeholders. Since Chileans believe business should be "win-win" scenarios, they attempt to find solutions that are in the best interest of all concerned. Managers are more autocratic than in many other countries. They tell subordinates what they want done and how they expect them to perform the task. Subordinates follow a manager’s instructions without comment, as it would be rude to challenge someone of a higher status. Boss or Team Player Chilean business is relatively hierarchical and managers are somewhat more autocratic than in many other countries. There are still the remnants of social class in the business arena. Managers do not seek a consensus before making decisions. Managers tell subordinates what they want done and how they expect them to perform the task. They are also paternalistic and will assist their subordinates if they have personal problems. Employees follow a manager’s instructions without comment, as it would be rude to challenge someone of a higher status. Successful cross cultural management will rely on the individual’s interpersonal skills and ability to maintain cordial relationships with their subordinates. This can be as important as their technical knowledge. Communication and Negotiation Styles The formality apparent when dealing with Chileans extends into the board room. Wait to be told where to sit; there may be a seating plan. You can expect senior and mid-level executives to attend initial meetings. Mid-level executives will attend follow-up meetings. Chileans are extremely conservative; they value honesty and truth and do not appreciate “hard sell” techniques. Relationships are important and time is spent developing these. Intercultural adaptability and patience are essential as Chileans do not like to be rushed. Useful Information and Links about Chile * Currency - the currency of Chile is known as the Peso (CLP). Use the free currency converter to compare to dollars, GBP or Euro. * Weather - visit Yahoo!'s up to date Weather for Chile. * News - check out all the latest Google news on Chile. * Dialing Code - the international dialing code for Chile is +56. * Time - Chile is -4 hours GMT. Get the time in Chile now. * Hotels - Hotels in Chile. * History - read about the long and rich history of Chile. |
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