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Do not expect to arrange meetings well in advance. Diaries are a flexible feast in India. If you are lucky you can agree dates and times a week or two ahead. Just as likely you will sort out meetings when you are there.
Do not think you will get down to business immediately. Tea, pleasantries will start the meeting. Asking about India or the local State is a good way to break ice, Cricket is even better, being knowledgeable about cricket has been an invaluable aid to establishing relationships and building confidence. Education is very important in India, and talking about colleges, courses, qualifications can be good. Avoid politics and the weather.Establish a pleasant, friendly, open relationship, key to building business relationships is building personal bonds, it is a relationship centred approach.
In meetings subordinates will always defer to seniors, correcting your boss is unknown, respect for your senior is everything, even when he (or she) commits to something they can not deliver. You will often find yourself directly opposite the Senior person. It enhances your standing in the meeting if you come with somebody else to take notes. Similarly subordinates will sit silently in a meet just to be there to support the Boss (do not be surprised if you are not event introduced to them) and do not ask them questions directly even if you know they know the answer - go through the Boss.
And do not be surprised for people to come in and out of meetings
I guess they call it multitasking but Indians seem to have a flair for participating in a meeting, taking a call or even using Blackberry for e-mail or their cellphone for text.
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