Poland – be humble

Poland – be humble

Poland is a country in Central Europe, bordered by Germany, the Czech Republic, Ukraine and Lithuania. It has a population of 38 million and the capital is Warsaw. Nearly 90% of the population is Roman Catholic, 75% of them practicing.

Poland’s high-income economy is considered to be one of the healthiest of the post-Communist countries and is one of the fastest growing within the EU. It is the only European economy to have avoided the recession of the late 2000s.

Poland experienced an increase in the number of tourists after joining the European Union. Tourism contributes significantly to Poland’s overall economy and makes up a relatively large proportion of the country’s service market

Poland has a large number of private farms in its agricultural sector, with the potential to become a leading producer of food in the European Union. The biggest money-makers abroad include smoked and fresh fish, fine chocolate, and dairy products, meats and specialty breads.

It is estimated that 20% of small to medium-sized business are owned by women and these businesses are successful, in manufacturing as well as in the service section, helping to propel Poland on its fast-track path towards a competitive market economy. It remains unclear how and why this is happening. It may be that women got their footing in the market economy before Western-style discrimination had a chance to take root and hold them back. State socialism was good training for the flexible skills demanded by the new democratic market economy. When the system changed in 1989, women came to the market with self-confidence and as much entrepreneurial spirit as the men.

Business people in Poland initially take a formal approach to business. This may come across as being aloof, but that is not the intention. You may also notice differences in style between government officials who maintain formality and entrepreneurs who willingly dispense with formality. It is best to let your colleagues determine the level of formality used.

For newly established and more formal relationships, a great deal of emphasis is placed on diplomacy. Once a relationship has passed through the initial phases, people feel more comfortable speaking frankly with each other and animated exchanges become more common. However, being humble is valued so avoid boasting or making claims that may be misinterpreted as arrogance.

Share your business experiences of Poland

Sources: Wikipedia, Alicia Patterson Foundation, Kwintessential