Focus country: Mexico
Mexico is a Spanish-speaking country bordering southern United States. It’s well known for its Pacific and Gulf of Mexico beaches, its diverse landscape of mountains, deserts and jungles. Ancient Aztec and Mayan ruins, such as Teotihuacan and Chichen Itza, and Spanish colonial-era towns are scattered throughout the country. In the capital – Mexico City – upscale shops, renowned museums and gourmet restaurants cater to modern life.
Mexico City enjoys mild, pleasant weather nearly all year. Its winters, while cooler than the summers, are very mild and the temperature in winter averages, in the high 60s to low 70s Fahrenheit, with the average high peaking in the summer and early fall months in the low to mid 80s. October through May is the city’s dry season, while June through September is considered the “rainy season”. During the summer months, it rains on average once a day, though the rain rarely lasts longer than a few hours.
If doing business in Mexico you should be familiar with some of the cultural norms. Spanish is the official language of Mexico, but English is widely spoken in urban areas. The following are some tips and insights to assist you should be lucky enough to have a future business trip to this country which is rich in culture.
Titles and forms of address are very important in Mexico. A Professor or Doctor would be address by their title. First names are usually only used when on familiar terms so it would be better to wait for your counterpart to switch to first names before initiating this change.
Mr. = Senor, Mrs. = Senora and Miss = Senorita
Getting around in Mexico City can be a challenge and one should be patient as additional time should be added when traveling to and from the airport. If you are not being met by a local from Mexico, it is important to have knowledge of the transportation options. The airport has two Terminals. Terminal 1 is served by a Metro station, and travelers with baggage are advised to use one of the secure taxis to get to their destination within the city. Tickets can be purchased from booths in the arrival area when you leave Customs and should be marked “TAXI.” Several companies offer this secure service for a fixed price and are paid in advance, depending upon the distance of travel. Do not accept a ride from anyone who approaches you at the terminal. Metro Bus, which is part of the city’s public bus system, now serves both Terminals and takes travelers into the city center. Metro Bus Route 4 provides the service.
When greeting a person for the first time in Mexico, a man will usually shake hands, while women will often pat each other on the right forearm or shoulder instead of shaking hands. Do not be offended if conversations take place at a much closer distance than what you might be used to in the United States or Europe. Pulling away from your counterpart might be considered unfriendly, it would also not be unusual for a Mexican to step forward and close the distance.
Regular business hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with lunch between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. The business atmosphere is friendly, gracious and easy-going with the pace often slower than in the United States and Europe, so be prepared to spend extra time.
Personal friendships are very important and vital when doing business in Mexico, Mexicans look for relationships built on trust and reliability. A business friendship can mean more than the prospect of doing business with a large named company. It is important to maintain this business friendship after your business trip.
Leave yourself a reasonable margin when negotiating prices. Decisions are always made at the top level so be sure to have the right level of leadership when negotiating deals. There could be a number of consultations so be patient and build this into your timeline. Mexicans like to build long term relationships base on trust and reliability so it is important to spend the time building these relationships.