Working with Americans

8:

hi, my name is Jason

INTRODUCTION

People say Americans rush to do business before they know you, that an American’s informality and directness have more than once been interpreted as rudeness. Also, their casual friendliness is often seen as superficial. Americans find these observations surprising and unsettling. They want to be friends, to do business together and are unhappy to hear they insult people. In this chapter we focus on rules about friendship and business relationships. You’ll find other areas of American style etiquette covered throughout the book.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

• There is a link between informality and equality.
• Americans want to be friends and there is a reason for their seemingly contradictory behaviour, sometimes ...