Indians in authority are generally decisive and willing to take risks.
(TIME) -- In India, much information is needed before a deal is struck India's two official languages are Hindi and English, with English widely used in business.
Translators are not required, but it is useful to have an intermediary to help navigate local bureaucracy.
The traditional greeting is the namaste -- hold your hands in prayer position at chest level and bend your head towards your finger-tips.
Westerners are likely to be greeted with a handshake -- women should not initiate a handshake with a man.
In formal situations, you may be welcomed with a garland of flowers. Meetings usually start with tea and small talk.
Building personal relationships is vital as subjective feelings weigh heavily in the decision-making process.
Bring plenty of business cards and be flexible about timing -- itineraries often change at short notice.
Indian society is very hierarchical and everyone is aware of their rank in relation to others. Foreign businessmen should aim to gain access to associates at the highest level in order to advance rapidly.
Those in positions of authority are generally decisive and willing to take risks, whilst subordinates are reluctant to get involved in decision making and expect to follow directives.
Business negotiations can be protracted. You might have to provide the same information several times to different people but this is usually an indication that you are making progress.
A deal is often sealed with a meal. Most business meals are lunches, although you may be invited to an associate's home for dinner.
Indians enjoy entertaining -- "Serving a guest is like serving God," is a commonly-held belief.
Leave a little food on your plate to avoid offending your host -- an empty plate may suggest you are still hungry.
