When taking a business pitch to another country, slight cultural misunderstandings can prompt a potential partner to send you packing. The following are a few of the hundreds of suggestions listed in the Getting Through Customs database that can help avoid such misunderstandings.

• Poland is still a male-dominated society, and most of the businesspersons you meet will be male. Admonishing Poles for sexist attitudes, real or perceived, will not help your relationship.
• In Korea, don't incorporate triangles into a business presentation. Triangles are considered a bad omen in that country.
• In Saudi Arabia, don't be put off by conversations that involve physical contact. Be prepared to discuss issues in close proximity to your host.
• North American gestures take on completely different meanings in other countries. For example, in Australia, don't use the "thumbs up" sign - it's considered rude. In Chile, avoid an open palm with separated fingers - it means "stupid."
• In Spain, don't expect to discuss business at the start of any meeting. Protracted negotiations are common.
• In many European countries, be prepared to hand out business cards liberally. The opposite practice holds true in Japan, where the exchange of a business card can be a very formal gesture (see the database report on Japan for details).
• Don't present handkerchiefs as a thank-you gift in China. They're associated with weeping and funerals.
• Compliments tend to embarass Germans. They expect to neither give nor receive them. They assume that everything is satisfactory unless they hear otherwise.

(Passport to Success ref)