Communication Etiquette:
• Greeks tend to be warm and polite people
• Upon meeting a firm handshake with direct eye contact and a smile is acceptable
– Good friends often kiss the cheeks and embrace one another
• Celebrating name day is more important and practiced then celebrating birthdays
• Arriving 30 minutes late to dinner arrangements is considered arriving on time
– Expect to be treated like royalty
– Treat them with the same respect
– Dressing well is also a sign of respect to your hosts
• Family is the basis of their social structure
– Family relationships often carry over into business
Business Etiquette:
• Greeks like to do business with people that they have developed a relationship with
– It takes time to develop relationships – put effort into developing this one
• Networks of family and friends are always used and appreciated in Greece
• They appreciate and prefer face-to-face meetings
• Business is relaxed and also very serious
• Appointments are necessary
– Often possible to make on short notice
• Have printed material in both English and Greek
• Business dress is very comparable with the rest of Europe
– Men – Dark colored conservative suits
– Women – Either business suits of tasteful dresses, dark colors
• Business cards are exchanged during introduction
• Greeks respect position and age
– Companies are an hierarchy