Hugging in Business Situations???

We've been looking at homes, and we've met with a few agents. One is a grandma lady, one is a Mr Clean muscle man, and one is a younger guy. The only one I would feel comfortable getting a hug from would be the grandma lady. She was so sweet and loving and very bonding. If any of those guys had tried to hug us, it would have been very, very weird...

At work, I didn't really care if I was hugged.

My hubby, he's had a couple of his employees try to hug him when he's given them promotions, and he takes a step back and makes it VERY obvious he does not want a hug. It does make it awkward for the other person, but he works with almost all women, and he likes to make it very clear that he's married;-) But he's just not a huggy guy either...except with me.

so, I think that typically it's good to not hug in a professional environment. But I am a hugger personally and if someone looks upset or sad, I'll do a side hug. I do try to be aware if they are weirded out by it or not! then again, I'm a SAHM so it's not like I'm in a professional environment very often.

I find hugging to be very odd and inappropriate in this situation.

However, there are a few situations where hugging is appropriate. In the past I've hugged a colleague who was having a really bad day. I've hugged a colleague who gave me an inexpensive, but extremely thoughtful gift. I business associate who I see only once or twice a year started hugging me at social business events.

I gonna go with it being a small-town/regional thing? lol

Honestly, 8kidsdad comment about the cold hearted wanting personal space is very offensive. I am not one who likes to randomly hug a lot and I am NOT cold hearted in any way. I love hugging my family but I am not touchy feely with friends that I am not VERY close with. I appreciate people who are respectful of that and who don't need to have their face in my neck in order to say hello.

I am friends with a lot of people who LOVE to hug. Some of them would be very hurt if I didn't accept their hug, so because I love them, I accept. There are definitely some situations where a hug is in order! :)
In a professional situation, no way. Your realtors would make me want to keep a squirt gun in my purse.
Always put out your hand to shake *before* there is a chance to hug. It's okay to let people know that you value your personal space.

Dawn B.- you're cute! :) Church hugs! I'd probably not be able to resist! :)

1 - No, I don't think it's common. Thank goodness.

2- I would say, "Sorry, not a hugger." I hug the people I love, that's is. I am VERY particular about my person space, and a good way to irritate the heck out of me...is giving me a hug, when you don't know me. I'm not shy about refusing a hug. They are in MY space, and I don't want them there. I don't care about embarrassment, they shouldn't be hugging random people.

...Haha...
Not wanted to hug strangers, is not cold hearted. If someone WERE my friend, they could hug me...because I love and care for them.

Hugging has become some sort of viral thing it seems. I'm not one to hug someone that I dont actually have some sort of emotional connection with. Keeping a professional distance and offering your hand for a shake before they try to grab you up would be your best bet. I've been stuck getting hugged before too tho, sometimes you just have to go with it and make it short.

My husband and I moved from the DC area and you never touched besides an intitial handshake. When we came to Texas everyone hugged and it was hard to get used to, especially for my husband who worked with a lot of women. He didn't know how to handle the situation. Now that we've been here 3 years, all his co-workers still hug, but he's used to it now and gives a slight hug back, but we still talk about how odd it is. I remember when I left my job in Virginia, my boss at 6 pm said I was no longer an employee and he could give me a hug goodbye. That was the first time we touched since our intitial handshake a year before. I'm not a hugger, and I've come to find out that it doesn't matter if you say you are not a hugger, huggers hug. I've been told on numerous occasions that, "I know you don't hug, but I'm going to hug you anyway."

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I have hugged in business situations but only people I know pretty darn well. I don't mind hugging but it would bother me if my real estate agent hugged me. Maybe they were just soooo happy to have work.

Oh I have been known to hug random grocery checkers. I am 43, if you are going to card me you have to have some idea it could happen. :p

Only time I would accept a hug from a real estate agent is when they gave us the keys to our new house! Other than that, it's a bit weird lol

I'm a hugger. If a real estate agent gave me a hug, I'd hug back. I'd warm up to that greeting in a heart beat.

I'm used to the cold hearted wanting a "personal space". It would catch me by surprise for the first second or maybe two. I hug my kids and grand kids and friends. And I'm not opposed to having new friends.

Old proverb, unknown origin: "One can never have too many friends or too few enemies."

Good luck to you and yours.

Funny, I've dealt with three different real estate agents (2 different companies) and all three were huggers. Now there was always some distant connection with each one, such as friend of a family member or friend of a friend...I think I thought that was the reason for the hug at the time. Maybe it's just common for real estate agents to hug...so that you feel at ease and trust them to find you a good home, it is pretty personal.

I've had hugs from co-workers a lot. I don't usually initiate hugs but don't mind receiving them. I guess I "just go with it." In my experience it seems pretty common and normal.

Maybe if you see a hug coming, work on body language. Stand with your arms crossed and slightly away from the person.

Actually, if anyone in business would have a good 'reason' to hug, I would think it would be a real estate agent. I guess because its so personal. I mean they are helping you find the perfect home!

And I'm an insurance agent and have never hugged a client. However, they have hugged me upon leaving my office after I have saved them a ton of money!

I have also hugged and been hugged by other business owners at networking meetings but only ones that I know and see all the time. I don't consider myself a "hugger" but I don't think its weird if someone hugs me.

um...weird. I am not a hugger either, but business is not really a place to give hugs unless you know them personally. I would probably not say much if it happened once, but if it kept happening and i was not comfortable with it, I would just say thanks for the hugs, but I'd be more comfortable with a handshake. I think it would way weird me out, hugger or not.

I'm not touchy feel with business associates either. And it is not common for me. Maybe that's because I give off a "don't touch me" vibe? The only business situations I've encountered it in were in long-term situations where we had developed a friendly relationship and there was a specific situation that warranted it (my boss's dad going in for brain surgery, I was leaving for maternity leave... big things not casual day to day stuff).
As for what I do if a random stranger hugs me. If it's not a crucial contact I stay a little stiff, and it does throw me for a loop. I try to avoid those situations by putting my hand out for a handshake to preempt the hug, or side stepping so it ends up being half a hug if I can see they are homing in on one. If it is an important contact that I know I will be seeing often I tell them I'm really sensitive to touch or I'm not really a hugger and could we just stick with a handshake? It's better to confront those issues than to just let them fester, because people can sense the uncomfortable vibe you give off in a hug and may interpret it as something else.

It's definitely not just a small town/Southern thing. I was raised in NJ, moved to Boston for 7 years as a young adult and then to NYC for 9 years before relocating to Colorado. I hug people all the time but appreciate reading the other side of it on here. I host parties in my home regularly and it's not unusual for a friend to bring someone I don't know. I'm hugging everyone there...hello and goodbye. I've always figured it makes them feel more welcome since they'd be the only ones not getting one. Maybe I'll ask next time!

I personaly love hugs. I know that I need hugs as well. I always heard that we need 15 hugs a day minimum. If your realtor gave great service why not a small not effectionate hug. This will let them know you appreciate the work they put in for you. I think hugging has some amazing power to it!