Business Meeting Etiquette in the United States The culture and geographic location of an area often influences business meeting etiquette , even within the United States. Some of the main elements of U.S. business meeting etiquette may include business dress, style of greetings, punctuality and styles of communication. Business Dress In the U.S., appropriate business attire varies by virtue of the geographic region, industry, or day of the week. The dress style in the East tends to be more formal while it is seemingly be more casual in the West. However, etiquette in the U.S. demands that executives dress formally, regardless of their location in the country. It is advisable to dress conservatively for an initial meeting with a firm. For men the default dress code is a business suit unless one has prior knowledge that the firm maintains a casual dress code. For women business attire includes dresses, suits and pantsuits. U.S. business meeting etiquette requires that clothing, whether formal or casual, be clean and neat in appearance. Punctuality Arrive on time for meetings since time and punctuality are very important to Americans. In the Northeast and Midwest, people are extremely punctual and view it as a sign of disrespect for someone to be late for a meeting or appointment. In the Southern and Western states, people may be a little more relaxed, but to be safe, always arrive on time. Greetings The most common form of salutation is the handshake and it should be firm, and confident. A handshake ought to last between 3 and 5 seconds and it should be offered upon arrival and departure. It's customary to maintain good eye contact during a handshake; this shows interest, integrity and confidence. If you are meeting several people at one time, maintain eye contact with the person you are shaking hands with until you move to the next person. When you’re in formal meeting circumstances, stay to using designated titles and surnames until invited to use first names -- this often happens quite quickly. The exchange of business cards does not require any formal rituals and is done during introductions or when one party is leaving. Communication Styles Americans prefer a direct style of communication that reflects linear thinking and logic. Make sure you speak coherently and in a frank and uncomplicated manner. If you make a presentation, it should be direct and to the point. Visual aids should further enhance your case. In many American business circles, the use of a phone is preferred to face-to-face meetings when it is not deemed necessary to see or know the other party with whom business is being discussed. Presentations are made in a factual and to-the-point manner. Claims must always be backed up by hard data evidence, official statistics and visual aids. Meetings may appear relaxed, but they are taken quite seriously. If there is an agenda, it will be followed. At the conclusion of the meeting, there will be a summary of what was decided, a list of who will implement which facets and a list of steps to be taken and by whom. After the meeting U.S. companies limit or discourage the giving of gifts, they can be considered bribes. It's preferable to give invitations to a meal or written notes of gratitude. Decide whether the following statements are true or false.