Greeting

Handshake is a traditional form of greeting in Greek culture. During this greeting ritual, people usually exchange welcoming smiles and maintain direct eye contact with their partner.

Both men and women shake hands when meeting each other. Men's handshake should be firm.

Adhere to a rather formal line of communication in the initial stages of the relationship. To do this, address your partner giving their last name (rather than first name) and respective regalia (job title, academic titles/ranks, professional qualifications, etc.).

As you become more familiar with your Greek partner, the relationship may be closer. In this case, a greeting between men may include, in addition to a handshake, a light hug and a pat on the shoulder or back.

Very close friends and relatives hug each other when they meet (they may pat each other on the back or arm), and also exchange kisses on each cheek.

Common forms of greeting are: "Yassas!" or "Yiasoo!" (Hello!).

Introduction

According to Greek traditions, a person at birth is given a first name, a patronymic and a surname, for example, Vassilis Georgiou Avramopoulos. The patronymic is derived from the father's name, to which the suffix "-ou" is added. In the above example Georgiou means the son of Georgios.

In some cases, you may see two names or two patronymics (the patronymic is sometimes called the middle name).

Women often retain their maiden name after marriage. This became possible after the 1983 law, according to which a woman can decide for herself which surname she will keep after she marries.

When working with Greek partners, remember that at the start of your relationship communication will be rather formal. It means using polite forms of address, such as Mr. and Ms., followed by the surname (not the first name) of the person.

In Greek business practice, hierarchical relationships between people are very important. Greeks are respectful of both those in higher positions and those who are older. Mind forms of address, name the regalia of your partner, be it professional qualification, job position, academic degree or title.

Over time, your Greek partner may suggest calling him/her by his/her first name. Do not take the initiative in this case, but wait for your partner to initiate it.

In terms of using names and titles/ranks, follow the lead of your Greek partners. Stick to the level of formality appropriate to the situation.

Exchange of Business Cards

In Greece, a person's status and position are taken into account, so the business card should better contain this info. So, not only the name of the company and general contact data, but also the various insignia of the holder, such as academic degrees and titles, professional qualifications, job positions, additional significant diplomas or certificates. All these things are treated with great respect in Greece.

If you are going to spend a long time in Greece or plan to develop your business in this country, it makes sense to get business cards with the text in Greek on one of its sides. On the other side the text of the business card can be in English or in your own language.

There is no formal protocol when exchanging business cards in Greek business practice. Just make sure that when you hand your business card to your partner, the text in Greek is on the front side.

Small Talk: Overview

Greeks willingly engage in conversation and participate in discussions with pleasure, especially if the topic concerns them personally. They may be quite expressive, responding emotionally to this or that statement of the interlocutor, passionately defending their opinion.

Active gesticulation and body language, changing voice intonation, expressive facial expressions are welcomed in Greek society. It is perceived as a signal of the speakers' interest in the conversation. A raised tone does not mean that the speaker is angry or aggressive.

Eloquence is generally valued in Greek culture. Rhetorical devices, comparisons, storytelling, quotations - all of these enhance the speech and will be positively received by your Greek counterpart. Sometimes you will probably even have to wait before the conversation focuses on important business issues.

Silent pauses during the conversation should be avoided as much as possible, as they will be simply inappropriate in the temperamental and expressive environment.

Preferred Topics

Sports, and soccer in particular, is a a good topic to speak about. However, try to refrain from supporting or criticizing a particular team without first exploring your partner's preferences.

Greek contribution to the world culture, such as ancient Greek philosophy, ancient theater, the Olympic Games, Renaissance, etc. Greeks are justifiably proud of their rich history. Show your interest, share your knowledge in this area. This will be appreciated by your Greek counterpart.

Politics, including local politics, is a popular topic in Greek society. At the same time, it can be quite sensitive for your partner. In any case, refrain from making radical statements about the government or specific politicians.

History of Greece, its sights, historical monuments and nature of the country.

Travel, entertainment, local cuisine.

Taboo Topics

All religious topics are generally taboo subjects, especially the activities of the Greek Orthodox Church and its relations with government circles.

Do not bring up topics related to corruption.

Avoid topics related in any way to sexual preferences, relations between the sexes etc.

Avoid criticizing the culture, people, different aspects of life in Greece. Greeks are very proud of their country and especially of their cultural heritage.

"Unpleasant" are also topics related to politics or the actions of the authorities. However, even though Greeks themselves often openly complain about local politicians, saying that they have "ruined the country", this does not mean that foreigners are "allowed" to do the same.

Steer clear of conversations around Greece's relations with Turkey, Cyprus or North Macedonia.

Personal Space

When talking, Greeks stand quite close to each other - closer than other Europeans or North Americans. This distance can also be observed in conversations between people who do not know each other or do not know each other very well. In such situations, it is important not to take a step back, as this can be seen as rather unfriendly and impolite behavior.

When communicating, Greeks behave quite expressively. They actively use body language, gesticulate a lot, often touch each other, for example, patting each other on the shoulder or back, hugging or kissing each other on the cheek. Of course, this happens much more often between acquaintances, relatives or friends than between partners starting a business relationship.

When talking to a Greek colleague, it is important to maintain direct eye contact with him or her; failure to do so may be interpreted as insincerity towards the interlocutor.

Communication Specifics

In Greece, it is customary to observe subordination in relations between people who occupy different positions in the hierarchy. Depending on this, the manner in which people speak may also vary. It is important to find out your negotiating partner's position in the company beforehand.

A more respectful tone may be necessary if your partner is, for example, not only a director but also the founder of the company and is also well-known in certain professional or governmental circles.

In the early stages of a business relationship, etiquette and protocol should be observed. This means using the formal titles and ranks of your partner when communicating with him or her. It is important to be particularly courteous and polite when talking to an older person.

This form of respect is also shown towards new business partners or individuals who hold a high position in the company hierarchy. Speech in this case should be appropriate to the situation.

At the beginning of a project, you may find that your Greek colleague does not always answer questions directly. He will be particularly evasive when it comes to a situation that is unpleasant for him and that he feels could lead to a conflict. The same applies in case of a direct refusal to a request.

Over time, a closer relationship is established between the partners, a sense of trust develops and the level of formality becomes lower. All this is very important for Greeks.

Greece is a high context society. This means that a certain amount of information remains unspoken or understated, since all the necessary information is either derived from the situation itself or is understood without being expressed by all participants, because it is contained in the culture itself.

Sometimes non-verbal signals carry much more information than the actual explicit, verbal part of speech. These signals include gestures, facial expressions, tone of voice, etc.