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Greece |
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Facts and Statistics
Location: Southern Europe, bordering Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Turkey 206 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 246 km Capital: Athens Climate: mostly mountains with ranges extending into the sea as peninsulas or chains of islands Population: 10,647,529 (July 2004 est.) Ethnic Make-up: Greek 98%, other 2% Religions: Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7% Government: parliamentary republic; monarchy rejected by referendum 8 December 1974 |
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The Greek Language
98% of the 10.6m population of Greece speak Greek, which is the country's official language. The largest minority language is Macedonian, spoken by 1.8% of the population. Others include Albanian, spoken in the centre and the south, Turkish, spoken by Muslim communities around the Aegean, and Arumanian and Bulgarian. None of these minority languages has official status. Greek Society & Culture An Ancient Heritage . Greeks are proud of their cultural heritage and their contribution to world civilization. . A recent study found that Greeks' pride in being Greek surpassed the ethnic satisfaction of every other European nation. . Plays continue to be staged in the theatres where they were originally performed. . Greek literature includes poetry, drama, philosophy, history, as well as travelogues. Religion in Greece . The Greek Orthodox Church is the national religion and is practiced by the majority of the population. . Religion is integral to life in Greece and is evidenced in the respect for hierarchy and view of the family as a single unit of strength. . Most holidays and festivals are religious in nature. . Younger people are not as devout church-goers as their parents and grandparents, yet most will still turn to the church to observe such important rituals such as weddings and funerals. . Easter is the major religious holiday and the celebration is more important to most Greeks than Christmas. . The Church plays a greater role in political, civic, and governmental affairs than in more secular countries. Greek Family Values . The family is the basis of the social structure. . The family offers both financial and emotional support to its members. . The extended family is expected to help relatives in times of need, even to the point of assisting them to find employment. . Family relationships carry over into business. Nepotism is accepted . The wrongdoing of one family member brings dishonour to the entire family. General Etiquette & Customs in Greece Meeting Etiquette . Greeks are warm and hospitable. . When meeting someone for the first time, they shake hands firmly, smile, and maintain direct eye contact. . Good friends often embrace; they may also kiss each other on each cheek. Male friends often slap each other's arm at the shoulder. Gift Giving Etiquette . In general, Greeks exchange gifts with family and friends for 'namedays' (birth date of the saint after whom they are named) and Christmas. . Some Greeks celebrate birthdays, but in general, celebrating namedays is more likely . Gifts need not be expensive. Since gifts are generally reciprocated, giving something of great value could put a burden on the recipient since they would feel obligated to give you something of equivalent value. . When invited to dinner at a Greek home, bring something small. . A floral arrangement may be sent in advance of the actual event. . Gifts should be wrapped. . Gifts are usually opened when received. Dining Etiquette If you are invited to a Greek home: . Arriving 30 minutes late is considered punctual! . Dress well. This demonstrates respect for your hosts. . Offer to help the hostess with the preparation or clearing up after a meal is served. Your offer may not be accepted, but it will be appreciated. . Expect to be treated like royalty! . Compliment the house. Table manners . Remain standing until invited to sit down. You may be shown to a particular seat. . Table manners are Continental -- the fork is held in the left hand and the knife in the right while eating. . The oldest person is generally served first. . Do not begin eating until the hostess starts. . Keep your elbows off the table and your hands above the table when eating. . Accepting a second helping compliments the host. . Expect a great deal of discussion. Meals are a time for socializing. . It is considered polite to soak up gravy or sauce with a piece of bread. . People often share food from their plate. . Finish everything on your plate. . Put your napkin next to your plate when you have finished eating. . Indicate you have finished eating by laying your knife and fork parallel on your plate with the handles facing to the right. . The host gives the first toast. . An honoured guest should return the toast later in the meal. . The most common toast is "to your health", which is "stinygiasou" in informal situations and "eis igían sas" at formal functions. Business Etiquette and Protocol in Greece Relationships & Communication . Relationships are the linchpin of business dealings since Greeks prefer to do business with those they know and trust. . They maintain an intricate web of family and friends to call upon for business assistance since they can be confident of their trustworthiness. . Nepotism is not viewed negatively and it is very common for relatives to work for the same company. . Greeks prefer face-to-face meetings rather than doing business by telephone or in writing, which are seen as too impersonal. . It takes time to develop relationships: this can be done in the office, over extended lunches, dinners, and social outings. . Never say or do anything that can be construed as challenging the honour or integrity of a business colleague. . Under no circumstances should you publicly question someone's statements. . Greeks do not like people who are pretentious or standoffish. . Although business is relaxed, it is also serious. Acting informal before a relationship has developed is considered discourteous. . If your Greek business colleagues become quiet and withdrawn, you may have said or done something to upset them. Business Meeting Etiquette . Appointments are necessary and should be made 1 to 2 weeks in advance, although it is often possible to schedule them on short notice. . Confirm meetings one day in advance by telephone. . Many businesspeople eat lunch between 1 and 3 p.m., so this is not the optimal time for a meeting. . Quite often it is not until the third meeting that business is actually conducted. During the first meeting your Greek business colleagues will want to get to know something about you as a person. The second meeting is used to develop trust and mutual respect. By the third meeting, business may begin. . Have printed material available in both English and Greek. . Meetings are often interrupted. Several people may speak at the same time. . Greeks will deviate from agendas. They view agendas as starting points for discussions and will then follow the discussion to the next logical place. . Although some business people speak English, it is a good idea to hire an interpreter. Business Negotiation . Forming a personal relationship is critical to developing a successful business relationship. . Companies are hierarchical. Greeks respect age and position. . Business is conducted slowly. You will have to be patient and not appear ruffled. . Demonstrate how your product or service enhances your colleague's reputation. . Do not lose your temper or appear irritated during business discussions. . Greeks are skilled negotiators. They quite enjoy haggling. . Decision making is held at the top of the company. . Imposing a deadline on reaching a decision may end the negotiations. . Contracts are often quite simple since the personal relationship dictates that accommodations will be made on either side should the need arise. Business Dress . Business dress is as in most of Europe. . Men should wear dark coloured, conservative business suits. . Women should wear either business suits or tasteful dresses, preferably in dark or subtle colours. Business Cards . Business cards are exchanged without formal ritual. . Have one side of your business card translated into Greek. . Present your card so the Greek side faces the recipient. Being a Manager in Greece The business set up in Greece is hierarchical and intercultural management is more likely to succeed if you behave formally until a personal relationship is developed. Treat those in positions of authority with respect and deference. Use titles and surnames and do not move to a first-name basis until the more senior person makes the suggestion. Arrive punctually for meetings, but expect to be kept waiting. The Role of a Manager Cross cultural management needs to bear in mind that each person has a very distinct role within the organization, and maintaining that role helps to keep order. People believe that their supervisors have been chosen because they have more experience and greater knowledge than those they manage, and it is, therefore, unnecessary, and even inappropriate for them to consult with lower-ranking individuals when decision-making. In Greece, as in other hierarchical societies, managers may take a somewhat paternalistic attitude to their employees. Approach to Change Greece’s intercultural adaptability and readiness for change is developing all the time. Greece is seen to have a medium tolerance for change and risk. It is important for innovations to have a track record or history noting the benefits if they are to be accepted and implemented. The fear of exposure, and the potential of embarrassment that may accompany failure, brings about aversion to risk and the need to thoroughly examine the potential negative implications. Because of this attitude, intercultural sensitivity is going to be required, especially when conducting group meetings and discussing contributions made my participating individuals. Approach to Time and Priorities Deadlines and timescales are fluid. Patience is the key to successful intercultural management when working in Greece. Essentially a relationship-driven culture, it should be understood that taking the time to get to know someone will always take precedence over any timelines. Greeks have a relaxed approach to life. Everything gets done eventually, but seldom according to a schedule or timetable. The word "avrio" (tomorrow) means some time in the future. Global and intercultural expansion means that some managers may have a greater appreciation of the need to enforce timescales and as such, agreed deadlines are more likely to be met. Decision Making Greek business is hierarchical and decisions are reached at the top of the company and handed down to subordinates to implement. It is common for managers to seek consensus before making a decision. In general, Greeks do not like admitting mistakes. They will become evasive or silent if pressured. This is not a deadline-driven culture. Maintaining harmonious working relationships is more important than accomplishing something at a specific time and cross cultural sensitivity is necessary. Boss or Team Player If you are working in Greece, it is important to remember that honor and reputation play an important role. When meeting together and moderating ideas, intercultural sensitivity is required. It is important to qualify ideas that are raised in a gentle manner, protecting the reputation of those bringing up ideas, so no one is shamed. Communication and Negotiation Styles Greeks prefer face-to-face meetings rather than doing business by telephone or in writing, which are seen as too impersonal. It takes time to develop relationships: this can be done in the office, over extended lunches, dinners, and social outings. Many discussions are held in "kafeinos" (male-only coffee shops). Many businessmen use these as an unofficial office and prefer to discuss serious matters here rather than in their office. Offer to pay at a kefeino, but expect to be turned down. Suggesting your colleague be your guest at a pastry shop demonstrates an understanding of Greek social mores and hospitality. Forming a personal relationship is critical to developing a successful business relationship. Greeks are skilled negotiators. They quite enjoy haggling. Maintain eye contact when speaking. Decision making is held at the top of the company. Imposing a deadline on reaching a decision may end the negotiations. Contracts are often quite simple since the personal relationship dictates that accommodations will be made on either side should the need arise. Many Greeks will not sign contracts or have important meetings on Tuesday, which is the day the Byzantine Empire fell. Useful Information and Links about Greece * Currency - the currency of Greece is the Euro. Use the free currency converter to compare to dollars, GBP, etc. * Weather - visit Yahoo!'s up to date Weather for Greece. * News - check out all the latest Google news on Greece. * Dialling Code - the international dialling code for Greece is +30. * Time - Greece is +1 hour GMT. Get the time in Greece now. * History - read about the long and rich history of Greece. * Free guide to Greece - travel, people, money, living, driving, articles about Greece. * Hotels - for accomodation see Hotels in Greece. |
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