Russia Characteristics of Society

7/28/2019 Russia Characteristics of Society

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Country Information: Russia

● The Russian Mindset

● Characteristics of Society

● Lifestyle & Aspirations

● The Essentials (10 Key Tips)

● Working with the Russians

● Making a Good Impression

● Business Etiquette

● Business Meeting Culture

● Motivating Others

● Effective Presentations

● Managing Relationships

he Russian Mindset

he older and younger generations have quite different mindsets. The older generation has

een conditioned to secrecy, distrust and fear. Personal responsibility, self-worth, motivation

nd personal security were the greatest casualties of the communist system. The younger

eneration is more open and relaxed.

ore values of Russians include the family, security and stability, loyalty, honour and pride,

ndurance, patience and mutual support.



ussians believe that Mother Russia has a soul, and that they must take their own path and

ot copy the West. Russians see themselves as rational and conscious realists. They are

so nostalgic and romantic. They joke that it's always the past that is golden, never the

ture: "There are no good times in Russia, just bad times and worse times…that's why we

e pessimists."

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haracteristics of Society

ussia's population is small relative to its size, and unevenly distributed, with the vast bulk in

e European areas and the Ural regions. In inhospitable regions such as the far north and

uch of Siberia, population density is often less than one person per square kilometre.

he country is still going through a tremendous struggle to exchange the values of

ommunism for those of a free-market economy and democracy. Some observers liken

present-day Russia to the American Wild West of

the 1870s - fortunes are being made and sometimeslost in the scramble.

There has always been an inequality and a struggle

for power. There is currently a power struggle

between free-market economists and nationalists.

Ethnic tensions within Russia are also coming to the

fore and threatening to disrupt social stability.

Russians have become less sensitive as the moral

coordinates of their world have drifted apart.arshness and casual indifference are stark features of everyday Russian society. Distance

a means of survival (often manifested as self-reliance, stony resolve and strong will) is a

aracteristic of the Russian people, who have been isolated from the rest of the world for

nturies, first by the country's sheer size, second by the creation of 'buffer' communist states

etween the USSR and the rest of the world (all of which are now independent) and third by

e decades of communist rule which closed Russia's doors to outsiders.

ussian culture is characterised by two main groupings, the intelligentsia and the working

ass. An emergent middle classes is beginning to establish itself in the major cities like

oscow and St Petersburg. However many are dissatisfied with their lives today; in a recentrvey, 56% of Russians said that Peristroika (which means 'restructuring') was a bad idea.

ne in two marriages ends in divorce in Russia, although couples often stay under the same

of to save money. Broken homes are far from unusual; many couples never even marry for

ar of the cost of divorce. Most families only have one child. Alcoholism affects one in three

eople. As a result, the population is in rapid and alarming decline.

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ifestyle & Aspirations

festyles vary enormously between rich and poor Russians, and rural and urban dwellers.

● Smoking: A national hobby, indulged in by one

in three of the population, despite a recent ban

on smoking except in designated areas. Some300,000 Russians die every year from smoking-

related diseases; more than 40% of teenagers

smoke; and 15% of the family budget goes on

cigarettes.

● Drinking vodka and beer : Both a curse and a

blessing. Russians love deep conversation,

lavish toasts and good vodka, all of which are

inherent to their culture, but alcoholism in men

has doubled since perestroika and is believed

to affect 40% of men now (and 17% of women).

● Hockey and soccer : Both national passions, both as spectator and participationsports.

● Sailing: Very much in vogue among the rich. A yacht is a huge status symbol.

● Indoor sports: City gyms offer all kinds of indoor sports from basketball to rock

climbing. Strictly for city dwellers, though.

● Curling, skiing, snowboarding: All popular in winter. Russia has several ski resorts

and numerous opportunities for cross-country skiing.

● Culture: Access to the arts is improving all the time. Russia has a spectacular history

of music, dance, painting and literature and is immensely proud of it.

● Dacha: Many families have a small wooden chalet in the countryside, to which they

retreat for holidays and weekends. This is for many people the only break fromeveryday life; very few Russians can afford overseas travel. Those who can enjoy

sunny destinations like the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, as well as cities like

London and New York, where the shopping is good. However, these really only

represent a tiny, moneyed section of Russian society.

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he Essentials (10 Key Tips)

1. Friendships are very much based on mutual

obligations, with friends bestowing favours on one

another.

2. Affinity for the group and collective spirit is strong.

When people enter meetings who appear unconnected

with your topic of discussions, go with the flow and find

a suitable time to bring things back to your agenda.3. Typically Russian schedules change a lot so be

prepared to adjust your timescale expectations

accordingly.

4. Russians have developed a strong sense of endurance

in difficult situations. It is a quality they respect in

others, too.

5. Negotiations can be lengthy - Russians do not like to

be rushed to reach decisions.

6. Most decisions are made by consensus, making it

difficult for individuals to accept full responsibility easily. You need to explain veryclearly where, and why, individual initiative is expected.

7. Hierarchy, rank, titles are very important so make sure you respect the chain of

command.

8. Business entertaining is an integral part of building interpersonal trust with visitors.

9. Russin communication style can be emotional, almost poetic at times. Try hard to stay

focused on your key messages and show patience when listening to the local

anecdotes and 'stories'.

10. Bribery and corrupt practices are often experienced when doing business in Russia.

Respect local laws, your nation's laws and your own company's code of conduct.

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Working with the Russians

ussians take duality to greater extremes than other nationalities. They can be emotional and

esponsible and yet haunted by conscience; reckless yet cautious; tolerant yet censorious;

dependent yet lost without a sense of belonging to a family group or team. There tends to

e conformity within a loose hierarchical structure and a tendency to follow a leader rather

an the rules.

orking with Russians can be both frustrating and rewarding. Getting an appointment can be

fficult. Meetings go on for hours (if anybody turns up in the first place) and stray far from

eir original agenda, negotiations can be protracted and contracts easily broken. Schedules

ll change constantly, making planning almost impossible. Hours may be spent discussing a

oblem with no real desire to come up with a solution. Yet once trust is established,

ussians can become great friends, demonstrating loyalty and a willingness to bestow

vours. They are keen to learn and crave a sense of belonging, so work very well in teams.



usiness entertainment is an important part of working in Russia and is embraced

holeheartedly, with long drinking sessions and much toasting with vodka cementing

usiness relationships.

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aking a Good Impression

You will come across as a sympathetic person if you display

your own family closeness. In the brutal Russian environment,

family was often the only enduring form of security. Intimacy

appears to be more pronounced among Russian families than

elsewhere in the world. So indicate your human side -

emotions, hopes and aspirations. Russians also have an

intensity about them, with a strong love of the dramatic and the

tragic. Business associates often bond in the sauna (the

banya).

You will also make a good impression if you keep your

impatience with the Russian system to yourself. Remember,

change takes time. If you start complaining and ranting at

someone, they will probably just shut down. Russians have a

concept of 'face' similar to Asians, and face must be saved at

all times.

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usiness Etiquette

he concept of a business relationship without a personal one is alien to Russians, so be

epared to keep in touch and to work to build your relationship.

hen you first meet Russians, it is best to keep small talk focussed on non-contentious

sues, or on sport, something which of course Russia continues to excel at.

ody language

ussians are passionate and expressive but not necessarily extrovert. They will shout, hug

nd kiss in public but will not always sit with their legs stretched out, as if trying to occupy a

gger space. If a Russian touches another person during conversation, it is a sign of

nfidence. They may enter meetings unsmiling, but can be quickly engaged with a show of

nderstanding and sincerity.



Russians have several popular superstitions which

you should be aware of. You should not shake

hands through a doorway, light a cigarette from a

candle, present someone with an even number of

flowers, or whistle indoors. If you get to know your

host's children, it is bad luck to kiss them goodbye

on the forehead - a farewell reserved for corpses. It

is also unlucky to return somewhere to pick up

something you've forgotten.

Otherwise, European manners are the norm. Keep

your hands out of your pocket, use good posture,

on't cross your ankle over your knee, and remember that whistling indoors brings bad

ancial luck. The Russian word nyekulturny means uncultured, bad-mannered.

ussian is a language abundant in curses, and there are quite a number of obscene

estures. Both the American "OK" sign (thumb and forefinger touching in a circle) and any

aken fist gesture will be interpreted as vulgar. The "thumbs up" gesture indicates approval.

ome common traditions or superstitions include sitting for a minute before leaving a home,

ocking three times on wood to avoid bad luck, and spitting three times behind the shoulder

prevent bad news.

usiness cards

ven the lack of telephone books in many areas, business cards are essential, so be sure to

ing a good supply. It is also worthwhile to have your card, complete with your title and any

niversity degrees, translated into Russian with Cyrillic text on the reverse side. Make sure

at this is the side which is visible when you present it to the recipient.

ommunication style

ussians are usually direct communicators and will speak their minds, but at the same time,

ave a strong concept of 'face' like Asians do. Face must be saved at all times, even if it is at

e expense of the truth. If a Russian starts skipping round a question and failing to give a

rect answer, it may be because the answer is 'no' and they are trying to save your face and

eirs. The use of the metaphor is a particularly favoured Russian conversational technique.

ft giving

enerally speaking, Russians enjoy giving and receiving gifts. Bring an assortment of gifts,

that you will always have something appropriate to give. Cheaper gifts do not have to be

rapped, while more expensive ones should be. Gifts for children are usually opened in

ivate, while gifts for adults are generally opened in the presence of others. If your gift was

opular, you will hear many 'thank-yous'.



void giving pencils, pens, notebooks, lighters (unless they are expensive ones), cheap wine

vodka. In Russia, flowers are a gift given almost exclusively for women. The only few

xceptions would be male teachers, doctors and visiting celebrities.

cceptable gifts include: wine or other alcohol (not vodka), fine chocolates (when invited to a

ome), scarce food items, towels, cameras, watches, perfume, cologne or clothing (as a

ank-you for an overnight stay). Do not, however, confuse the giving of a genuine gift with

e offering of a bribe and pay careful attention to your company's policy and to the laws of

ur country and of Russia even when giving gifts.

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usiness Meeting Culture

anning a meeting

low plenty of time to plan a meeting - several weeks if government officials are involved.

Be clear about your intentions for the first meeting. If it is

merely exploratory, say so as your counterparts may have

higher expectations of you. Either way, the purpose of any

meeting should be partly to build relationships. Russians

expect to meet with someone of similar rank and position.

Always be punctual, but do not be surprised if your Russian

contacts are not. It is not unusual for a Russian to be one or

two hours late for an appointment. Generally, the more

important the meeting is for your Russian counterparts, the

more punctual they will be. In case you are kept waiting, it's a

good idea to bring work or another diversion to fill the time. In

other circles, however, being five minutes late is frowned

upon. In any case, it will be in your best interests to arrive on

time.

e prepared to devote a lot of senior executive time to meetings. Russians are very status-

nscious and want to deal with your key decision-makers. Use the most impressive title

owed you by your organisation. Russians must be treated as equals and not 'talked down

.

uring the meeting

low plenty of time for each appointment. Not only may appointments start late, they may

st far longer than originally planned. Many times, Russian managers will discuss problems

thout concrete solutions in hand. This suggests that the Russian state of mind is based

ore on the idea that the formulation of a problem is considered at least half the battle,

hereas in the West the focus is generally on the solution. As a result, meetings can drag on



r hours with no real progress, and may stray far from the agenda.

first meeting is often to establish whether your counterparts consider you a good person or

mpany to work with. Use the time effectively to demonstrate what differentiates your

mpany from the competition. Russians expect long and detailed presentations that include

history of the subject and a review of existing precedents.

eetings are frequently interrupted. It is common for several side conversations that have

othing to do with the topic of the meeting to be carried on during the meeting.

any meeting or conversation, comments are directed by Russians to the highest-ranking

erson on the opposite team. Subordinates will take direction from the highest-ranking

erson, even if that person has no responsibility for the task, and even if it contradicts the

rective of the person responsible for the task. Russians will attempt to save face in

eetings and will avoid topics that may cause embarrassment to them or anybody else.

ost Russians do not trust anybody who is 'all business' and some small talk is necessary.

ou may even find that your Russian counterparts break out the vodka during a meeting to

ast the progress of the deal, or the new relationship. It is very bad form to refuse this and

u should drink your shot in one go after the toast.

fter the meeting

o not be surprised if the meeting ends with no action plan or timeline, or indeed a

mmitment to the next meeting.

our counterparts may ask you to sign a protokol, an agreement of cooperation, which is not

contract to work together, but an expression of mutual interest. It is not legally binding to

gn this.

further indication that you have successfully developed a personal relationship is when you

e asked for a favour by your new contact. This is an indication of trust, not a request for a

ibe, but you should nonetheless pay careful attention to your company policy and the laws

your country and of Russia when considering it.

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otivating Others

ynics might say that power, position and an ability to make - and break - the rules are what

otivates the typical Russian. The reality for the majority is different. While power is a strong

otivator for an ambitious manager, for most it is a sense of belonging and a sense of having



a stake in something. Russia has become the country with the

largest employee-ownership in the world. More than two thirds

of the 12,000 medium and big Russian enterprises privatised

after 1992 are majority-owned by employees. This does not

make them rich, but it instils a sense of pride and creates the

'family' feeling typical of Russian teams.

Companies perpetuate this feeling by throwing lavish parties

for their employees, at which management and shop floor

workers mix freely. National holidays, special companyanniversaries, birthdays and even project completions are

celebrated by parties thrown by some 50% of Russian

businesses, according to estimates. Only 8% of Russian

companies are thought to ignore corporate hospitality

altogether.

addition, Russian employees might expect personal birthday bonuses, medical insurance,

sidential housing, pensions, meals and sometimes, financial assistance for poor families.

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ffective Presentations

usiness presentations should be concrete, visual, factual and full of technical specifications.

void language that is over-complex. Be prepared to defend technical aspects and

erformance standards, particularly of high-tech products. Use of physical analogies and

sual description is recommended.

Bring all your own equipment - laptop, power leads,

projector - and check first if there is a broadband

connection. Also bring your own handouts. In

smaller companies, you cannot rely on there being

things like a photocopier.

Be aware that to some Russians, concepts like

marketing, customer loyalty and public relations

may be alien. Subjects like these were not

considered important in Communist times and in

some companies, the corporate culture is deep-oted.

udience expectations

ussians want to know exactly what they are buying. Consider bringing along a technical

ecialist as your counterpart may bring one of their own to question you. Have all

esentation material available in English and Russian and remember to accommodate an



terpreter in your presentation.

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anaging Relationships

nce a bond has been established with a Russian counterpart, it should be relatively easy to

aintain with constant contact, visits and exchange of ideas.

Western managers often need reminding, though,

of the Russian concept of saving 'face'. Failing to

observe this can lead to the breakdown of

relationships. It also affects relationships between

management and employees, and the way conflict

and feedback in the workplace are managed. Direct

feedback, for example, is difficult to give and is

unlikely to be a two-way process.

Western managers can also find it very tough to be

in charge suddenly of a Russian team. Teams are

close-knit, like family groups, with strong loyalties

between the individual members, and foreigners

ay be viewed with suspicion until bonds have been established.

aving said this, Russians are eager to embrace Western business techniques and are keen

learn more about topics including human resources, marketing, customer care and public

lations, all things which barely existed just 15 years ago. Customer service is improving and

any companies are embracing executive coaching and Western motivation techniques.

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Russia Characteristics of Society

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