Business Etiquette

- Ukrainian businesspeople are generally less formal than in many other countries. 
- Shake hands with everyone upon arriving and leaving. 
- Handshakes are quite firm. 
- Maintain eye contact during the greeting. 
- It is common to repeat your name while shaking hands.
- Academic and professional titles are commonly used with the surname. 
- If someone does not have an academic or professional title, use the honorific "Pan" for a man and "Pani" for a woman with the surname. 
- Most business colleagues refer to each other by first name and patronymic. (Middle name which is a version of the father’s first name formed by adding "-vich" or "-ovich" for a male and "-avna", "-ovna", or "ivna" for a female.) 
- When using someone's complete name, including the patronymic, the honorific title is not used. 
- The way someone is addressed often depends upon the situation. Titles and surnames are used in meetings and may give way to first names or diminutives in social situations.
- Business cards are exchanged without ritual. 
- Have one side of your business card translated into Ukrainian. 
- Include advanced university degrees on your business card. 
- Present your card so the Ukrainian side faces the recipient. 
- If someone does not have a business card, note the information in your appointment book or portfolio.