Greetings, Conversation, and Customs
Stand when you greet people or when they walk into the room. It’s rarely polite to stay seated when others are standing.
Shakings hands firmly and meeting people eye to eye are important parts of greeting colleagues and new business contacts. To not offer your hand can be seen as rude. Stand when you greet people or when they walk into the room. It’s rarely polite to stay seated when others are standing. If someone offers you a seat, take it, and if they are visiting you, be sure to indicate where they can sit.
Certain topics are best avoided when you’re talking to people you don’t know – especially in a business environment. Religion, politics, and personal information (such as health or relationship issues) shouldn’t be discussed. Equally, don’t comment on anyone else’s appearance – sometimes even compliments can go awry.
Contrary to many Asian countries, gift giving is not a part of U.S. business etiquette. There’s no need to take anything with you to a company’s headquarters or a meeting.
The use of first names without any titles is increasingly common in the U.S. Still, it doesn’t hurt to start formally until prompted to do otherwise (and remember, women often use the more neutral “Ms.,” rather than Miss or Mrs.)
Men and women in the workplace are legally and socially equal, and the U.S. has a long history of equality and civil rights movements. You should always treat everyone in a meeting as equal, regardless of their gender, race, sexual identification, or age.
While you might be in the habit of avoiding topics such as family and hobbies in a business environment, you’ll find many meetings start with small talk and family anecdotes. Family news and inoffensive observations are pretty normal. In the same way, sports are a common topic, so familiarize yourself with NYC’s major sports teams: The Knicks, Jets, Giants, Yankees, Mets, and Rangers would be a good start.