Top Tips 1-20 on Australia

Tip 1
Although Australia is relatively geographically remote and has a small domestic market, it is economically successful and its citizens have a comparatively high standard of living.

Tip 2
Due to its small domestic market, Australia needs to trade actively on the international market place and Australians know this – they are open to new ideas from overseas.

Tip 3
Australians prize their egalitarian approach to life- people should not try to make out that they are better than others.

Tip 4
This egalitarian world view is mirrored in many aspects of Australian business culture from corporate structures to management and communication style.

Tip 5
On the whole, Australian corporate structures are matrix oriented, without too many layers of management. A hierarchical approach tends to sit uneasily in egalitarian Australia.

Tip 6
Managers try to develop a matey relationship with their colleagues and would be viewed negatively if they tried to seem aloof from subordinates.

Tip 7
Everybody expects to have an input into the decision-making process even if, in the final analysis, the boss still makes the decision. If the boss makes the decision with no prior consultation, it unlikely that people will be very keen to ensure implementation.

Tip 8
Decision-making meetings can be quite animated and it is expected that people will say exactly what they think without necessarily having to defer automatically to the boss viewpoint.

Tip 9
Although Australians will say that they value punctuality as a professional necessity, do not be surprised if people appear five to ten minutes late for a meeting.

Tip 10
Some small talk is usually engaged in before the meeting proper starts. This stage of the meeting is, however, rarely protracted (five minutes or less.)

Tip 11
Australians tend to plan in less detail than certain other countries (Germany or Japan for example.)

Tip 12
The object of a meeting is often to explore the various possibilities available at that time, in order to determine what detailed actions may need to be taken after the meeting

Tip 13
Agendas are often produced at meetings but will not, necessarily, be strictly adhered to. Some deviation is allowed if it is felt to be constructive deviation. This is viewed as pragmatic.

Tip 14
Australians like to be viewed as good team players and will try very hard to play the role.

Tip 15
Teams are best managed by somebody who wants to be part of the team, rather than somebody who wished to be seen as apart from the team.

Tip 16
A team leader should view themselves the first amongst equals.

Tip 17
Australians like people to say exactly what is on their mind. Hiding your views behind diplomatic language can be seen as evasiveness.

Tip 18
Never try to hard sell things to Australians who will probably view such an approach as bragging. Such an approach will invariably backfire in Australia.

Tip 19
Humour is an oft-used communication device in Australian business circles. It is difficult to envisage many situations where the use of humour would be deemed inappropriate.

Tip 20
Business attire in Australia tends towards the formal with suits and ties the norm for men in management positions in major cities.

Author

This country-specific business culture profile was written by Keith Warburton who is the founder of the cultural awareness training consultancy Global Business Culture. 

Global Business culture is a leading training provider in the fields of cross-cultural communication and global virtual team working.  We provide training to global corporations in live classroom-based formats, through webinars and also through our cultural awareness digital learning hub, Global Business Compass.

This World Business Culture profile is designed as an introduction to business culture in Australia only and a more detailed understanding needs a more in-depth exploration which we can provide through our training and consultancy services.