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Asian Business Etiquette: Exchanging Business Cards - P2
By Angi Ma Wong

After you take the card, look at it and study the contents. Say the person's name (try your best) and look back at the card's owner for confirmation, smiling slightly. Ask him to pronounce his name for you AND REPEAT IT AFTER HIM until you get it right. Asian names notwithstanding, European/Anglo surnames are just as challenging and everyone likes to have his/her name properly pronounced. You will be rewarded with appreciation and brownie points because you took the time. Don't laugh and make a tactless comment like, "This is Chinese (Japanese, Korean) to me!"

Once you have asked for and received someone's business card. NEVER ask for it again on any occasion. To do so gives the message that you didn't care enough about the card, the businessperson, or the business relationship. The only exception to this rule is if you request two cards at the time you are accepting one and qualify yourself by saying, "I'd like to give your name and card to a friend of mine who could use your service/business."

In American etiquette, it is considered poor taste to talk about business and exchange business cards at social functions, but that is not so with your Asian clients and customers. Networking at social and family events play an important part in building business relationships. If you are invited to any social function, by all means, GO, and bring lots of cards with you.

Next: Shaking Hands: Part I - "The Grip"

1. Bowing
2. What If Someone Bows To You First?
3. Exchanging Business Cards (Part 1)
4. Exchanging Business Cards (Part 2)
5. Shaking Hands:- "The Grip" (Part 1)
6. Shaking Hands: "The Dead Fish" (Part 2)
7. Shaking Hands: "The Non-Handshake" (Part 3)
8. "Silence is Golden"