Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands, Sales and Marketing: The Essential Cultural Guide—From Presentations and Promotions to Communicating and Closing

ICEBREAKERS

BRILLIANT!

1. In social situations, the most common icebreaker is “What do you do?” or, if you are in Washington, D.C., “Where are you from?” (Few politically related professionals who work in the District of Columbia are originally from the area.)

At a normal business appointment, you would already know your contact’s title, company responsibilities, and why you are both there. In the limited time you may have before the meeting starts, you may hear generic questions, such as “How are you?” “How was your trip?” and “Did you have any trouble finding us?” None of this takes more than five minutes. The East and West Coasts (particularly New York City and Los Angeles) are known for fast-paced meetings that get right down to business. ...