Guinea is a country with sometimes conflicting customs. It’s a republic in which the president is elected by the people, emphasizing a sense of equality among individuals. With more than 24 ethnic groups making up the population of Guinea, it’s considered a rural country but you’ll find some rather urban customs taking precedence in business situations. Here are 10 tips on business etiquette In Guinea.
Men do not need to wear particularly formal clothing: slacks and a jacket that match are suitable, and in more casual settings, nice pants and a button-up shirt without a tie or jacket are appropriate. Women can wear skirts to business settings but like most African countries, skirts should fall below the knee. Women shouldn’t wear anything tight or revealing.
In Guinea, you use formal titles when addressing people. Use the most formal title possible, and when you don’t know it, at least address men by “Monsieur” followed by their last name and women by “Madame” followed by their last name. Do not use first names until invited to do so.
This might feel odd to Westerners, but you should make a point to immediately greet the most important person in the room with a handshake. If that means interrupting a conversation they are having, that’s OK — they won’t take offense.
It is considered rude to ask someone for a favor, or make a business request before asking a person extensively about his or her family. Do not rush this process.
Know that all decisions are usually deferred to the person with most seniority, so coming to an agreement can take a long time as the person you’re meeting with might have to send the message along to several others before giving you an answer.
While in many other African cultures, gifts are often opened in private, in Guinea, if you give a business associate a gift, it is customary for the recipient to show it off in public.
Guineans can be rather indirect in their communication style; they won’t always tell you directly what they want from a transaction, and you have to read between the lines to figure it out.
Guineans do not worry about being on time and neither should you. They do not live by the American saying, “time is money,” but rather give of their time freely, and don’t take offense if you’re late.