Bow slightly from the shoulders when greeting someone senior, depth of bow scales with the size of the age/rank gap. A handshake often follows in modern offices, but keep the bow too; don’t swap one for the other.
Hand over business cards, documents, or a drink with both hands (or right hand with left hand lightly supporting your forearm). Receive the same way, and take a moment to look at whatever you’re handed before setting it down, don’t pocket it immediately.
- Scale your bow to the moment: a light ~15° nod between peers, a ~30° bow meeting someone new or greeting an elder, a full ~45° bow for formal first introductions to senior figures.
- Use titles, not first names, for anyone senior to you — first-naming a boss or elder without being invited to reads as overly familiar.
- Let the most senior person set the pace at a meal or meeting; they typically eat, drink, or speak first.