LITHUANIA | Internship: At work | Negotiating
Meetings and Negotiation
Lithuanians are likely to be formal and reserved, and are moderately deal-focused. They are variably stuck to the rules, for example, they are basically punctual but with a few slip-ups, preferring to adhere to a meeting agenda point by point. Meetings in Lithuania are usually attended by similar status / seniority attendees. It is common practice for Lithuanians when doing business to offer a small gift at the end of the meeting. It is recommended that you also take a gift to give in return which is business related (e.g. something displaying your company logo). It is important to meet local requirements and deadlines. From the German point of view, Lithuanian behaviour during negotiations seems to be too relaxed and familiar in style while from the French business perspective – Lithuanians are too constrained and reserved. Younger Lithuanian entrepreneurs get straight to the point and expect this from others too. Many young Lithuanian business people, mostly men, still think that distributive negotiation, win-lose, is what business negotiation is all about. They think that integrative win-win negotiation won’t work in the “real world.”