Did you know...? More than half of Iceland's population lives in Reykjavik.
It is common to greet each other with a handshake. Although many Icelanders are very modest, they are very open-minded people and are interested in getting to know you. Therefore, small talk can be very personal. It is likely that they might ask you about the reasons why you are in Iceland and your opinion about the country etc.
Many Icelandic companies have very low hierarchies. As a result, a lot of meetings and briefings are very casual and partly spontaneous.
Most Icelandic surnames are evolving individually by certain rules: the particular father’s name combined with the Icelandic word for ‘daughter’ or ‘son’. As most of the people are better known by their first names, it is quite common to address each other by first name.
At work, it is very likely to have longer coffee breaks in the morning and in the afternoon. As lunch breaks are not necessarily regarded as working time, the duration and importance can vary from one company to another.
The Icelandic community is strongly based on trust and respect for each other. Therefore, the communication happens directly but polite. Many Icelanders appreciate fair critiques and honest feedbacks as well as a straight forward and focussed attitude at work.
That also includes a fair and cooperative time management. Punctuality is not only polite, but required as well as you should let your co-workers know when you are delayed.