To Hug or Not To Hug … When is it Appropriate?
Andrea Howe of Trust Matters had an excellent blog the other day on the Trust Matters website which made me think of the uncomfortable times I have experienced with clients that have ignored me extending my hand to give me a hug. Her question was “when is it appropriate to begin giving your clients a ‘professional’ hug rather than shaking their hand?”
I remember meeting a new client in Ft. Lauderdale and I was introduced to “Jane.” When Jane first approached our group of 3 she not only hugged the VP of HR and VP of Sales, but gave them a kiss on the cheek. When I was introduced she politely shook my hand with a warm smile. The next morning I went to the cafeteria to get some coffee and ran into Jane once again. This time as I extended my hand to say hello she said “we are not strangers any longer” and gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Needless to say, I turned bright red and we both laughed. Since that day we have always met with a hug.
I have a small group of clients who I share hugs instead of hand shakes, but it’s the exception rather than the rule. With that said, I can say that these clients have a special status with me as clients. I’m going to throw this out to you … when is it appropriate to hug instead of shake hands? Does it help or hurt your ‘professional’ relationship? Are there any rules? Where do we draw the line?
Your comments?
Sales Evolution is a B2B Sales Blog for curious people. We talk about things like sales training, sales management, sales assessments, sales leadership, prospecting, and sales relationship building. I’m Jeb Brooks and I’ll be your host. So, please sit back, relax, and join us!- Join the Sales Community
-
Free Sales Training Tips
-
TheBrooksGroup Sign up for our webinar: Top Sales Performers. March 1 at 12:55 EST http://t.co/krXC8nMQ - 02/10/2012 13:25
TheBrooksGroup Sales managers should help their salespeople with difficult customers. Agree? - 02/10/2012 13:25
TheBrooksGroup Webinar: How to Top Sales Performers. March 1 at 12:55 EST http://t.co/krXC8nMQ - 02/09/2012 13:15- So SalesGenie’s Super Bowl Commercial Missed The Boat…Or Did It? 30 comment(s)
- The World’s Most Complete List Of Job Titles For Salespeople 14 comment(s)
- Great Salespeople: Born or Bred? 13 comment(s)
- [Webinar] How To Determine How Good Your Sales Team Really Is 12 comment(s)
- Cold Calling 2.0 is Really About Warm Calling 12 comment(s)
- No, Professional Sales is Neither Dead Nor Dying 12 comment(s)
- The 10 Worst Practices in Selling Today 12 comment(s)
- Asking the right questions
- Book Review
- Customer Service
- Hiring / Retention
- IMPACT Selling
- News From The Brooks Group
- Overcoming Objections
- Positioning
- Pre-Call Planning
- Professional Selling
- Prospecting
- Sales Leadership
- Sales Management
- Sales Motivation
- Sales Negotiation
- Sales Presentations
- Sales Technology
- Sales Training Audios
- Sales Training Industry
- Sales Videos
- The SalesBuzz Radio
- Time Management
- Videos – Ask Bill
- Webinars
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
August 2nd, 2009 - 23:28
A hug is only appropriate with those you have a non-professional relationship with as well. For example, if you know Jane and her husband and have them over to your house for grill-outs and the like. If your relationship is strictly business related, a hug is overly familiar and can send the wrong message to clients or partners of yours that you do not greet with the same level of perceived affection. They may take this as a slight.