35 Tips on How Not to Offend Your International Business Partners (Infographic) From how you eat to how you dress, a look at how your behavior could be interpreted by your customers, colleagues and clients in different countries.

By Catherine Clifford • Jun 9, 2014

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The popular catchphrase, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder," is also true of offensive behavior.

In France, it is common for a man to greet a lady with a quick kiss on the cheek, even in a business setting. In China and India, that sort of familiar contact with business associates is frowned upon. And in Germany, if a business associate nods upon shaking your hand, then it is considered good form to return the nod.

Related: The Esquire Guy's Irreverent Rules for the Perfect Business Lunch

San Francisco-based customer service software company Zendesk generated the infographic below, with 35 tips for how to behave in international business settings to avoid an embarrassing faux pas that could put your business relationships on ice.

Click to Enlarge+

35 Tips on How Not to Offend Your International Business Partners (Infographic)

Catherine Clifford

Senior Entrepreneurship Writer at CNBC

Catherine Clifford is senior entrepreneurship writer at CNBC. She was formerly a senior writer at Entrepreneur.com, the small business reporter at CNNMoney and an assistant in the New York bureau for CNN. Clifford attended Columbia University where she earned a bachelor's degree. She lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. You can follow her on Twitter at @CatClifford.

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