Kiss, hug, shake hands? Or fist bump, bow, wave? How do YOU greet your customers the first time you meet them?
One of the joys of working in Europe is the variety of ways I get to interact with people. In Germany and Austria, I often start by shaking hands, but end the session with a hug.
In France and Switzerland, it is not uncommon for me to arrive at a training or workshop venue to be greeted with cheek to cheek kiss. This is a delicate operation, as you have to know which cheek to start with (left in Switzerland, right in some parts of France) and how many kisses are needed (three times in Switzerland, twice or thrice in some parts of France) to avoid landing your lips on someone's nose, or leaving someone hanging kiss-less!
I love this! It makes me so joyful to be able to interact with people and adapt my greeting style based on what seems to work for them.
I know that this level of interaction isn't for everyone, but that's what makes life so interesting.
What are some interesting ways that you've greeted, or been greeted by, customers at a first-time meeting?
#communication #greetings #culture #intercultural #crossculture #europe #joyofliving