Did you know...? Vatican City, in Rome, is the smalles country in the world.
It is common to greet each other with a firm handshake, sometimes Italians also touch each other’s right shoulder with their left hands to express happiness and familiarity. Small talk is a very common way to get to know each other better. Useful topics can be the own origin, the purpose of being in Italy, Italian culture, sports etc.
It is common to start addressing each other by surname, which can change after a while into the first name. At work, the hierarchies between co-workers and manager are very strong.
Harmony plays an important role in Italian workplaces.Italian communication is characterised by subtle and consensual dialogues. Although the language may appear dominant, it is unlikely to pass critique to co-workers straight forward. Being polite is very important. Sometimes critique can be communicated by ironic exaggerations.
The Italian time management can be characterised as spontaneous and relaxed. Tasks are solved equally and meetings can be delayed because of a longer coffee break. Therefore, punctuality is not very important. Although, you should not be too often delayed for work.