Leseprobe: Zehnder/Senn: How to Meet, Host & Dress

Whether we are at our first job interview, receiving customers, or
travelling abroad on business, we want to make a good impression. We
want to succeed, and we know that our appearance plays an important
role. How do I introduce myself? Do I stand up to greet the others or do
I remain seated? How do I greet a foreign guest? How do I strike up a
conversation with a taciturn customer in an elevator or get down to
business with someone dominating the conversation at a working
lunch?
In our everyday environment, we do not usually give much thought
to how or in what order we greet others. This changes when we are
confronted with an unfamiliar situation, especially in a professional
context.
International business etiquette requires us to master various skills,
including the ability to correctly greet others, make small talk, introduce
ourselves correctly, give precedence to others where needed, handle
business cards, write emails, behave appropriately online, and manage
the dos and don’ts of dealing with customers from all over the world.
If you are familiar with these conventions, you will feel more confident.
Knowing how to act in any situation is not a guarantee for success, but
it should in no way be underestimated. What we can guarantee is that
with increasing routine, you will gain that ease in dealing with people
that opens a great many doors.
In this chapter, you will find detailed rules of international business
etiquette on meeting and greeting others. The additional notes in the
text boxes are useful if you are interested in background information.
12 HOW TO MEET