BUSINESS IN POLAND

BUSINESS

• Poland ’s location offers numerous advantages for business. The country is located at the very heart of Europe
• Almost two million people study in Poland – this is almost half of the population of student age (19 to 24). Each year, 400,000 graduates complete studies at half a thousand universities, and the numbers keep on growing.
• It was the only country in the European Union to experience positive economic growth in 2010.

LIFE IN POLAND

• the culture here is people would rather spend their time in a park reading a book than a mall. People are much closer to their families and often live three generation in the same house. Unless you live in a city,
• Relatively inexpensive compared to other European countries
• Women have been excepted more in society lately in Poland .

MANAGEMENT STYLE

• Poland has retained a hierarchical business culture overtime. While management styles may differ among different personalities and company cultures (especially for American or multinational companies in the country), you should expect your Polish manager to be authoritative.
• The Poles are known for favoring direct communication styles, and the same holds true for Polish managers who have a habit of throwing quick and abrupt instructions.

BUSINESS MEETINGS

• Poles like to arrive at a meeting well prepared and they expect the same diligent preparation from others. Those who are unable to meet this expectation will be deemed unprofessional.
• Before meetings start it is traditional for Poles to exchange cards, with no hidden meaning other than sharing contact information. Keep in mind that people in Poland put a lot of value on titles and educational background, so business cards typically incorporate the two.

Untitled Slide

• Locals tend to be suspicious of people they have just met, a characteristic people attribute to Poland’s history of Soviet-era uncertainties and foreign domination. Sometimes this tendency can affect the dynamics of newly formed teams,