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To Kiss or to Shake?

By Agustina Tuesday December 22, 2009

To Kiss or to Shake?

Miami is a tricky place for professionals, in my opinion.

See, I’m Hispanic and like any other Hispanic, I say “Hello” with a cheek-to-cheek kiss.

In the business world, it’s customary to say “Hello” with a handshake.

I’ve been greeted a few times with a cheek-to-cheek kiss in a professional setting and it always throws me off guard. Not that I mind it, on the contrary, it establishes a sense of comfort and trust that a handshake can’t offer. Nevertheless, it is unexpected.

I have developed a great habit of pausing when I meet someone new and waiting to see how they’d like to be greeted. It’s my safest bet.

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5 Comments
  1. Vinisimo on Tuesday 22, 2009

    I probably would shake but I am with you, I prefer cheek to cheek. I find myself either shaking or kissing depending on my mood or the setting.

  2. roder on Tuesday 22, 2009

    This is one of my favorite things about Miami. It’s become very customary for me to kiss someone on the cheek and vice-versa. Not something I experience in many other cities, it’s a shame b/c its very welcoming and loving without being creepy in my book.

    I’ve had this conversation with some of my friends that are girls before and I hear the same thing… They like it. With that said, I don’t kiss guys.. so is this a male/female and female/female thing only? What’s the protocol for genders?

  3. Agustina on Tuesday 22, 2009

    Haha, here in Miami it’s more common to see men/women and women/women cheek-to-cheek kisses. I can’t speak for every country, but in Argentina, men give cheek-to-cheek kisses to other men too and it’s not seen as strange.

  4. Octavio on Tuesday 22, 2009

    Agree with you about MIAMI been a tricky place for professionals….Although I believe at the begining of a business relationship we should play it simple with a handshake.

    Latin culture is more informal, however you got to be cautious and not get embarresed infront a potential client or current customer.

    So, keep shaking and kissing at the right moments…

  5. MC on Tuesday 22, 2009

    I think a handshake is better for first meetings regardles of setting. Kissing is ok after a few meetings depending on the level of familiarity and comfort.


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