Italian culture / etiquette / business practices

Italian culture is rich and has a profound impact on society and all aspects of life. It is very important to understand the culture to integrate successfully into Italian society or to be successful in the Italian business environment.

The Italians take great pride in their history and cultural heritage, and they have a strong sense of cultural achievement. It is important for people from other cultures to understand the special cultural identity of Italy so as to effectively interact and be successful in business relations with Italians.

The family is considered the centre of the social structure in Italian society and the family provides both emotional and financial support to its members. There are places in Italy where even now the extended family resides together in one house.

Appearance and style is one key element in Italian society. The sense and way of dressing determines a whole lot in Italian culture: it determines the social status, family background and education level. It is quite true to say in Italy that “Dress makes a Man”. First impressions are considered as lasting impressions and Italians usually assess a person’s character, age and social standing based on appearance so it is important to create a positive first impression to Italian counterparts. In Italy there is a concept of ‘bella figura’ or good image and it is more than fashion, dressing and accessories but it also extends to the aura and personality that is projected too – i.e. confidence, style, demeanor, etc.

The Roman Catholic Church holds great importance and influence in Italian culture even though church attendance and participation is quite minimal. One of the prominent features that can be noted in Italian culture with respect to the church is its hierarchical structure. Like the Catholic Church hierarchal structures can be found in Italian families and relationships.

Italian culture – Key concepts and values

Affective Communication – Open expression of thoughts and feelings are common among Italians. Italians usually have large hand gestures and close personal contacts during conversations and interactions. Therefore it should be noted that to have successful business negotiations it is important to foster solid relationships based on trust.

Individualism – In Italian culture the sense of individualism is given prominence and it is considered a highly individualistic culture. This might be a reason for finding Italian businesses owned by individuals and families across Italy. In a business context Italians usually prefer to do business with people who are familiar to them or have some kind of a prior relation.

Bella Figura – It is usually used to describe the ability of the person to present oneself well and to behave with an air of confidence and formality and is considered a key element in Italian business culture. In Italian culture appearance and attire are extremely important so when doing business in Italy it is important to ensure that great importance is given to aesthetic presentation both in business attire as well as the design of business materials.

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