Greek Business Management Style

Traditional management styles in Greece are highly directive and paternalistic.

This paternalism fits very easily into the strong sense of family and ethnic ties which bind all Greeks together. The individual responsibility of the boss would always be seen as paramount, rather than the collective responsibilities of a group.

Therefore, it is important to give clear instructions which can be easily followed. Don’t expect pro-activity – it may come, but is not necessarily always forthcoming in these types of paternalistic business cultures. When people have been used to very precise instructions from a directive boss, vague requests can seem very confusing. ‘What exactly am I expected to do here?’

As relationship bonds run deep in Greek culture, the manager expects loyalty. In return for this loyalty, the boss will look after the interests of subordinates. The manager-subordinate relationship is viewed as reciprocal and familial.

Author

This country-specific business culture profile was written by Keith Warburton who is the founder of the cultural awareness training consultancy Global Business Culture. 

Global Business culture is a leading training provider in the fields of cross-cultural communication and global virtual team working.  We provide training to global corporations in live classroom-based formats, through webinars and also through our cultural awareness digital learning hub, Global Business Compass.

This World Business Culture profile is designed as an introduction to business culture in Greece only and a more detailed understanding needs a more in-depth exploration which we can provide through our training and consultancy services.