When Italians communicate, they are always doing two things at once: addressing the topic at hand and tending to the relationship. The relationship comes first. Before any business discussion can happen, the personal connection needs to be acknowledged and nurtured—asking about family, sharing something personal, showing genuine interest in the other person.
This is not small talk or time-wasting; it is the foundation that makes everything else possible. Communication that skips the relational dimension and goes straight to content feels cold, mechanical, and untrustworthy.
If you want to communicate effectively with Italians, understand that every interaction is simultaneously a relationship interaction. The quality of the relationship determines the quality of everything that follows.
Comments