Business etiquette

etiquette is what you are doing and saying when people are looking and listening. What you are thinking is your business -Virginia Cary Hudson

 As we beco

e a ore high-tech society! the need "or a sensiti#e! personal touch in business increases. As $ohn %aisbitt says in &egatrends! whene#er new technology is introduced into society! there ust be a counter balancing hu an response.

 %o

atter how intelligent or accurate your co puter is! you ust still interact with people. 'ood anners are cost e""ecti#e. (hey increase the quality o" li"e in the work place! contribute to opti u e ployee orale! e bellish the co pany i age! and hence play a a)or role in generating pro"it.

 A *.+. o""ice o" Consu

er a""airs, study showed that up to -./ o" unhappy custo ers ne#er co plain about discourtesy! and -0/ will ne#er again do business with the co pany that o""ended the . 1n addition! the a#erage unhappy custo er will tell the story to atleast nine other people! and 02/ o" unhappy custo ers will tell ore than twenty people.

A co pany beco es a co pany you want to do business with because o" people who work in it! so business etiquette has a #ery de"inite relationship to the botto line. 3'ood etiquette is good business4

When #iewed in this light!

etiquette is ore than which "ork to use! or how to s ile nicely! when to wear a tu5edo. (oday,s business people ust know how to walk into a roo "ull o" strangers and "eel at ease.

(hey need to able to

introduce the sel#es and others without "eeling apprehensi#e. (hey should know when-and how-to ake a phone call to cheer or congratulate so eone! or when a handwritten note or an eail is in order.

(hey

ust know how to conduct the sel#es at co pany social "unctions and receptions! and understand the co ple5ities o" the business lunch.

+o e etiquette basics
(rain etiquette what about the

rule that on a bus! or subway en or younger people ust gi#e up their seats to wo en or older people6 %ot any ore-unless the people are handicapped or pregnant. 7" course! o""ering your seat is still a nice gesture.

Holding doors
8esterday,s etiquette dictated that

a an had to back up and let a wo an pass through a door "irst9 a younger person had to do the sa e "or an older person. But today,s co on-sense etiquette dictates that the person in the lead holds the door "or the person in the rear. 1t is that si ple.

1" people o" the sa

e gender approach the door together! the one in the higher position or the considerably older usually enters "irst! while the other person holds the door "or the .

 What about re#ol#ing doors6 1" the wo

an is in the lead! she enters "irst and pushes9 the an "ollows and pushes and #ice #ersa. 1" the person in the rear wants to push a little harder to help out! that,s great. (he point is not who goes "irst! but that e#eryone gets through the doors easily.

$ust re

e ber that co on sense rules. 1" so eone is carrying an ar "ul o" "iles or packages! the other person takes the lead in all situations! regardless o" se5 or age.

 1t,s nice but not

andatory! "or a an to go around to the passenger to assist a wo an into the car when they tra#el together. 1t,s especially appropriate when the car is locked. 1" so eone does unlock the door "ro the outside! please be polite enough to unlock the dri#er,s door "ro the inside4

Auto obile etiquette

'etting out o" the car is

another story. +o e wo en "ind it e barrassing "or a an to co e around and open their car door. What do they do while waiting6

 1"! howe#er! a wo

an is dressed "or a special e#ent and ight ha#e trouble aneu#ering her dress and wrap! then o" course a an should help. 1" you,re a wo an with a an who insists on opening your door! good anners dictate that you allow hi this tradition without a show o" resent ent.

 1t is still good

anners "or a an to walk a wo an to a car i" it is parked in a dangerous area9 at night ti e he should acco pany her in any area. 7" course! it,s s art "or a an to walk a an to his car as well4 And a wo an should always walk into parking lots in groups! i" possible.

:le#ator etiquette
Co

on sense dictates that the people closest to the ele#ator doors get on "irst. 1" you want to be at the "ront when it,s ti e to get out! go in and stand by the buttons! out o" the way. 7r go in last.

7r i" you are in the #ery

"ront waiting "or your "loor! howe#er! you show good anners i" you o#e outside the doors to allow people to e5it "ro the back

Consideration o" the entire

group should always co e be"ore "or al etiquette to one person! especially in an ele#ator. 1" you,re using the escalator or the stairs instead o" the ele#ator! the an usually "ollows the wo an.

:tiquote
1" you would be happy "or one

hour! take a nap. 1" you would be happy "or a day! go "ishing. 1" you would be happy "or a onth! get arried. 1" you would be happy "or a year! inherit a "ortune. 1" you would be happy "or li"e! lo#e your work. -Chinese pro#erb

Basic guidelines the

;rinciples o" i peccable work beha#ior

guidelines apply to all e ployees! )ust not newco ers. &any #eteran workers also need to be re inded occasionally o" these basic principles o" business pro"essionalis .

0.Be care"ul with your appearance

(hese are )ust a "ew

general guidelines "or the ost e""ecti#e business appearance<

=ress appropriately
8ou want to be noticed! but you

don,t want to stand out. And there are di""erent rules "or di""erent situations and work styles. Again! your own organi>ation,s style will dictate what is appropriate.

=ress "or the position you want! not the position you ha#e. 7thers tend to belie#e that you are what you appear to be. +o when it co es ti e "or pro otions! anage ent usually looks "irst "or the people who need the least a ount o" groo ing "or the new position.

=ress conser#ati#ely
?or

ost businesses and ost business occasions! conser#ati#e is best. 8ou will ha#e ore credibility in a )acket than without! ore credibility in long slee#es than in short! ore credibility in conser#ati#e colors than "lashy

@.:5pand your knowledge

Anowing how to learn is the

skill ost needed by e ployees Bearn as uch as you can about your )ob and your anager,s )ob! and hoe each "its into the organi>ational structure.

?ind out what other

depart ents do. Cead the trade publication o" your industry and pro"ession. Be the one who people turn to "or e5pertise in your area.

2. Honor your working hours

Working nine to "i#e doesn,t

ean that you arri#e at nine and lea#e at "i#e. 1t eans you work "ro nine to "i#e. +ociali>ing at the co""ee pot or eating break"ast at your desk does not constitute working.

 ?i#e

inutes ay not see like uch to you! but it ay see like stealing to your anager or C:7! especially a s all or a busy o""ice. +pending 0. inutes on a personal phone call is only a s all part o" an eight-hour day! but 0. inutes a day equals D. inutes a week-al ost an hour o" unproducti#e ti e

 1" you start getting ready to

lea#e at E<ED! charge out o" the o""ice at E<E-! and screeching out o" the parking lot! you,ll gi#e the i pression that you can,t wait to lea#e-not a pro"essional attitude. 1" you cut short a telephone con#ersation with a custo er because it is quitting ti e! you ay lose business

 1" you arri#e at a

eeting late your actions say! y ti e is ore #aluable than yours9 you aren,t i portant to e. (hose "ew e5tra inutes ay ake a big di""erence in a way you are considered "or pro otions or raises. Be honest . How any hours do you really work6

E.Be "riendly
When you are new!

you need people to help you with your duties! e5plain procedures! and show you where to get in"or ation or aterial you,ll need. &ake an e5tra e""ort to get along with e#eryone! but don,t try too hard.

 Ask your new coworkers to

ha#e lunch with you9 lunch is a great opportunity to get to know each other.

Ce

e ber that o""ices work best when indi#idual e""orts supports the tea e""ort.

 ?riendliness aside! don,t let

D.Aeep personal in"or ation to yoursel"

your li"e beco e the o""ice soap opera. When so eone asks! how are you6 don,t spill your guts. +o e o" the in"or ation could be used against later 1" you can,t control your ood or your outh! be quiet

(he sa

e ad#ice goes! o" course! "or sticking your nose into others, personal business. =on,t. %e#er discuss or question salary or any other con"idential or personal in"or ation with co workers.

 When your day isn,t going the

F. Be positi#e and supporti#e

way you hoped it would! try to look at the positi#e side o" things-and people. 8ou,ll be surprised how quickly you can turn a bad day into a good one. Belie#e in your co-workers and back the up in public

When your

anager akes a decision! gi#e your wholehearted support to it! at least in "ront o" others. &ake others look good at e#ery opportunity.

&anagers! especially

need you to look! talk! write! and act like a positi#e! supporti#e representati#e. 8our pro"essionalis re"lects both on your anager and your organi>ation

G. Aeep an open
&ake in"or

ind

ed )udg ents! a#oid )u ping to conclusions! e#aluate what you see in addition to what you hear! and don,t be party to gossip :stablishing yoursel" as pro"essional eans that you show respect "or others

H. ?ollow through
We all get a little tired!

especially by late a"ternoon! but the )ob you tackle at D<.. ;.&. eans as uch as the one you start at H<.. A.&. Co#er e#ery angle o" a pro)ect! and don,t wait to be re inded that you need to "inish a pro)ect. Be accurate.

 Check and double-check to

ake sure things are going s oothly and the way you planned. Be realistic about how long an assign ent will take! and let others know ahead o" ti e i" you anticipate a delay. +et deadlines and eet the .

-. Co

unicate

7ur )ob knowledge ranks abo#e

co unication skills as a "actor "or workplace success. Aeep people in"or ed in a succinct and a use"ul way. :#ery wants to know what,s going on-not e#ery little detail o" e#ery day! but what is happening on a)or pro)ects

 8our coworkers want to know

about the status o" assign ents. (hey want to know i ediately about any proble s or istakes. &ost o" all! i" a con"lict arises or i" so eone akes a istake! re e ber that e#eryone is hu an.

 &anagers want you! howe#er!

to go through the channels o" co unication. =on,t go o#er their heads! and don,t bring things to the that don,t concern the 1" you want to disagree with the ! do it tact"ully! with a positi#e alternati#e! and during a high point in a day.

0.. Bisten
+peaking and listening are twin

skills in co unication. Both sides ust play a part "or co unication to occur! and you can learn best by listening to what others know. Ask questions.

Hear how other

people organi>e their ideas! how they respond to changes in procedures.

00. +ol#e your own proble s

When you do

ha#e to present a proble ! bring possible solutions! too. =on,t co plain about things that can,t be changed! and don,t bla e others when you ake a istake.

Accept responsibility

when you ha#e ade a istake! and work harder to ake sure that it does not happen again. Bearn to accept criticis grace"ully without de"ensi#eness.

0@. Work hard

Be ready and willing. (ake on new

responsibilities! and do ore than others e5pect. =on,t be content to do only what,s e5pected o" you or use the e5cuse that it,s not y )ob.

Book "or areas in which you

can do ore and ake yoursel" ore #aluable. Volunteer "or special pro)ects. (hose who wait to be told what to do continue to be told what to do! and their #alue seldo increases.

02. Be asserti#e! but not aggressi#e

What,s the di""erence6 Asserti#eness is appropriate

beha#ior "or the situation at hand. 1t,s standing up "or your rights without in"ringing on the rights o" other people. Aggressi#eness is strong! o#erpowering! o"ten abusi#e beha#ior. 1t,s rude! crude! and abrasi#e

0E =on,t be in too big hurry to ad#ance

Bearn as

uch as you can in the )ob you ha#e now. (hink ahead. ;lan. 1t,s like growing up< no atter how eager you are! it takes a certain a ount o" ti e. (ry to en)oy what you ha#e while it is yours.

0D. Bea#e grace"ully

1" you don,t ha#e the )ob #ery

long! keep your disappoint ent-or your e5tre e happiness-to yoursel". $ust be cordial and say your good-byes quietly. %e#er bad- outh the people who ha#e put oney in your pocket.

1" so

e one lea#ing! respect that person,s pri#acy as uch as your own. :#en i" they ha#e resigned! and you can,t understand why! respect their opinion. (hey are still the sa e people-they )ust chose not work there any longer.

(hank you

&eeting people
:tiquote

'ood anners are always i portant in contacts in li"e! but they ust spring "ro real kindness o" spirit or they will not ring true. -:leanor Coose#elt