Did you know...? Greece has more than two thousand islands.
It is common to greet each other by a firm handshake and eye contact. Small talk is not very important and rather used to overcome the first minutes in a meeting.
In a conversation, body language and body contact are essential. It is very common to use gestures while talking as well as a wide range of facial expressions. Also, there are some gestures that have different meanings in Greek culture. For example, raising the eyebrow and an upward nod of your head means ‘no’, while shaking the head means ‘yes’. An open palm directly in one other’s face is an insult; the same with the ‘OK sign’ (index finger and thumb form an O or a circle) which is an obscene gesture. Further, in a meeting or a discussion, it is likely that many different people talk loudly at the same time, which is a very common way to discuss internal issues.
Many Greek companies are founded by families and it is possible that you have colleagues that are related to your manager or employer. Familial and close personal relations are essential for many Greek companies. Therefore, you should definitely show your personal interest and appreciation for the work place. The communication is rather straight forward and honest. If you want to pass critique, you should do so in a respectful, but open way.
Due to the heat over summer, many Greek companies have an extended lunch break over noon. Therefore, it is quite likely that small companies and offices, etc. will be closed between 1pm and 3pm. Punctuality is not the most important way to leave a good impression. Anyway, you should not be too late all the time, and you should definitely show interest in your work and the people you are working with.