Customs and behaviour patterns in Finland (0)

Tallinna Pedagoogiline Seminar
Noorsootöö osakond
Intercultural communication :
Customs and behaviour patterns in Finland
Andra Pant , NT 12
Tallinn
2011

• Punctuality is very important to the Finns . Never be late for meetings, as this is considered very impolite in Finland. Be on time!
  
• Do not raise your voice when you talk to Finns, especially not in public! Speaking in a loud voice is considered rude , as Finns themselves are quiet .
  
• Remember to look Finns in the eye. Looking down or to the side is a sign of dishonesty in Finland. 
  
• If you want to visit a Finnish friend, always let them know in advance. Privacy is very important to the Finns.
  
• When you visit a Finnish home, always take off your shoes or bring a pair of shoes you can wear indoors with you.
  
• Always remember to say ‘Thank you’ after a meal if you have been invited for a dinner .
  
• It is usual for all Finns to pay for their own meal in a restaurant. You can still politely suggest that you would be happy to pay for your companion’s meal.
  
• Finnish people drink coffee all the time and everywhere , for instance meetings always begin with a cup of coffee.
  
• Do not be surprised if no one comes to sit next to you on the bus. Remember privacy!
  
• Dishonesty is the worst sin of all to the Finns.
  
• Going to a sauna in Finland, even without clothes, has nothing to do with sex – a sauna is a sacred place for the Finns.
  
• Remember to respect the nature . Nature is very close to a Finn ’s heart.
  
• Finnish society is very organised. Also, remember to queue !
  
• Silence at night is required in tower blocks normally after 10pm. The communal hallways usually have information on the times of silence. Do not disturb!
  

The custom here is that both men and women will shake hands when introduced, or when meeting . Even children will often shake hands upon meeting guests.
When greeting someone at a distance , a raised hand or tip of the hat is common. Also, men remove their hats when meeting or conversing, or when entering a home, church, or elevator.
Bear hugs and cheek -kissing, so well known just across the border in Russia, are neither common nor popular in Finland. Emotions are not expressed publicly, only among relatives and very good friends .
It is inappropriate to eat food while walking on the street . The only exception might be ice cream .
The European style of eating —fork remaining in the left hand—prevails in Finland. Avoid eating anything with your fingers, including fruit.
Refrain from eating before your host begins , and take small portions because it is the custom to eat everything on one's plate.
At a dinner party , it is customary to refrain from drinking until the host offers a toast , and to refrain from eating until the host begins.
Standing with arms folded is sometimes viewed as a sign of arrogance. Always cover the mouth when yawning!
Finnish Behaviour

• Finns believe there is a proper way to act in any circumstance and always expect courteous behaviour.
  
• Talk in moderate tones and do not do anything to call attention to yourself. 
  
• Serial conversation is the rule - i.e. listen to the speaker, wait for them to finish and then reply. Interrupting is rude.
  

Finnish Meeting Etiquette

• Greetings are formal , with a firm handshake, direct eye contact, and a smile .
  
• It is common practice to repeat your first and surname while shaking hands. 
  
• When greeting a married couple, the wife should be greeted first.
  

Finnish Gift Giving Etiquette

• If you are invited to a Finn's home, bring flowers, good quality chocolates or wine to the host. 
  
• Flowers should not be given in even numbers . 
  
• Do not give white or yellow flowers since they are used at funerals. 
  
• Do not give potted plants . 
  
•  Gifts are opened when received .
  

Finnish Dining Etiquette
If you are invited to a Finn's home: 

• Arrive on time. Finns are punctual in both business and social situations. 
  
• Remove your outdoor shoes before entering the house. 
  
• Contact the hostess ahead of time to see if she would like you to bring a dish. 
  
• Offer to help the hostess with the preparation or clearing up after a meal is served. 
  
• If you are invited for coffee and cake , there may be as many as 7 cakes to sample. 
  
• Do not discuss business. 
  
• Thank the hosts for the hospitality before saying good-bye to the other guests.
  

Table Manners

• Wait to be told where to sit. 
  
• Table manners are Continental -- hold the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right while eating. 
  
• Always keep your hands visible when eating. Keep your wrists resting on the edge of the table. 
  
• Do not begin eating until the hostess invites you to start. 
  
• Bread and shrimp are the only foods eaten by hand. Even fruit is eaten with utensils. 
  
• Accept second helpings. 
  
• When passing salt and pepper shakers, put them on the table within the person 's reach . Do not give them directly.
  
• Men should keep their jacket on at meals unless the host removes his. 
  
• Finish everything on your plate. Finns do not appreciate waste . 
  
• When you have finished eating, place your knife and fork across your plate with the prongs facing down and the handles facing to the right.
  

Relationships & Communication

• Finns are transactional and do not need long-standing personal relationships in order to conduct business. 
  
• The basic business style is formal - i.e. there is relatively little small talk and Finns prefer people to speak succinctly and to focus purely on business.
  
• Finns do not require face -to- face contact and, in fact , are quite comfortable using e- mail. 
  
• Finns are excellent time managers who prefer to organize their workday in order to accomplish as much as possible. 
  
• Finns are interested in long- term relationships. 
  
• Relationship building often takes place outside the office: in a restaurant or the sauna.
  
• Never turn down an invitation to use the sauna, as it is an entrenched part of the Finnish culture.
  
• Finns place a great value on speaking plainly and openly.
  
• What someone says is accepted at face value and this is a culture where "a man's word is his bond " and will be treated as seriously as a written contract, so verbal commitments are considered agreements.
  
• Finns are direct communicators. Expect your colleagues to tell you what they think rather than what you want to hear. 
  
• Professional differences are not viewed as personal attacks .
  

Business Meeting Etiquette

• Appointments are necessary and should be made in advance by telephone , e- mail, or fax. 
  
• It is extremely difficult to meet with people without a formal appointment. 
  
• Do not schedule meetings between June and August as many Finns take vacation during the summer . 
  
• You should arrive at meetings on time or slightly early. 
  
• Telephone immediately if you will be detained more than 5 minutes. Being punctual is a sign of respect and efficiency. 
  
• Expect a bare minimum of small talk, if any, before getting into the business discussion. 
  
• Send an agenda before the meeting as well as the biographies of your team . 
  
• Meetings begin and end on time. 
  
• Avoid hype , exaggerated claims, or bells and whistles in your presentation.
  
• Finns seldom ask questions . The presenter is expected to make his/her case with sufficient detail that their Finnish colleagues do not need to ask questions . 
  
• There is no taboo on humour in the business environment.
  

Dress Etiquette

• Business attire is stylish and conservative . 
  
• Men should wear dark coloured, conservative business suits. 
  
• Women should wear conservative business suits, trouser suits, or dresses.
  

Socializing

• Finnish universities create organizations and associations for just about every subject and interest , i.e. French Club , Hockey Club. 
  
• Each club has welcome parties, drinking parties, movie nights and dinners, making it very easy to integrate into a group. 
  
• They also have clubs based on what region you come from in .   Therefore , if you need a little taste of home- away -from-home, you can socialize with other students from your region. 
  
• Once in high school and university , individual dates are normal, such as going for a picnic, ice skating or to see a movie.  It is good to keep in mind the outdoorsy nature of Finns, who often enjoy a good hike or walk by the lake.  It is equally acceptable for the girl to go pick up the boy as vice versa.
  
• Drinking is usually expected among students and smoking is common. 
  
• When first arriving in a Finnish University , each foreign student should have a volunteer student assigned to them in order to help them navigate the system and acclimate into the culture.  The universities are generally very well organized and accepting of foreign students.