Business kisses

I had arranged a meeting between my boss and a customer from Belgium in our office yesterday. I've had some prior contact with the customer as I had to make the arrangements for his flight etc. We had been fairly friendly over the phone but nothing out of the ordinary.

When we were introduced, instead of shaking my hand he pulled me toward him and gave me a double cheek kiss. While I wasn't offended, the action took me by surprise as he didn't greet anyone else that way. The man in question currently resides in Belgium and is half Greek, half Dutch.

In an opposite but similarly awkward situation I was recently introduced to a Rabbi from Israel (also for business purposes) and upon offering my hand to shake, he stepped away slightly embarassed and simply bowed to me. I found out later that Rabbis are not allowed to touch women outside their own family.

As we are an international crowd, my question is what international business practices and common faux pas should we be aware of? How do these differ from country to country?

Don't think you could have been expected to know about the Rabbianical thing.

As for the kissing - that's very unprofessional. Everyone in the world knows that shaking hands is the norm when greeting people in a professional situation and this is what should be done.
Then again maybe you charmed him so much he just couldn't control himself

even for prostitutes

I understand that the same applies to men from Utah.


Consider yourself lucky he didn't bend you over the table and slip you a quick length.

I think it even differs from city to city.

When I was in Rio, I was informed, that someone you know by first names, you kiss on each cheek, then again a third time. This seems to be the tradition of the north part of Brazil, But in Sao Paulo and the south part just twice ! strange ! It appears that Rio is the border for this !

These were all business people that I was meeting with !

Eleanor, you may like this book:

Do's and Taboos Around the World for Women in Business

A few things that I find interesting are:

Americans (mostly men) will sometimes hit their open palm with their fist when making a point. But in France that is considered very vulgar.

In Japan your name card, the meishi, is considered almost an extension of the individual and you should always have one available in business.

And in Italy, Bella Figura is everything!

Well I don't think I'll ever hear the end of the "loverboy" taunting from my coworkers and he did question me extensively on my marital status but no, I actually think he was just being friendly.

@ER

You should be glad he didn't go half greek on you and make you pay for it.

that's why when a japanese business man hands you his card, you are suppposed to read it & not stick it in your ass pocket!

That's exactly what a friend of ours did. He didn't even glance at the card, let alone read it, and promptly put it in his back trouser pocket. He had just started working (a prestigious law firm, no less) and nobody had told him about proper etiquette with Japanese clients so he was forgiven, but did he have to eat humble pie!