Business etiquette

Business etiquette is made up of significantly more important things than knowing which fork to use at lunch with a client. Etiquette is about presenting yourself with the kind of polish that shows you can be taken seriously. Etiquette is also about being comfortable around people.

People are a key factor in your own and your business’ success. Many potentially worthwhile and profitable alliances have been lost because of an unintentional breach of manners.

The most important thing to remember is to be courteous and thoughtful to the people around you, regardless of the situation. Consider other people’s feelings, stick to your convictions as diplomatically as possible. Address conflict as situation-related, rather than person-related. Apologize when you step on toes.

Make it a point to arrive ten or fifteen minutes early and visit with people that work near you. When you’re visiting another site, linger over a cup of coffee and introduce yourself to people nearby. If you arrive early for a meeting, introduce yourself to the other participants.

 Keep notes on people. There are several “contact management” software applications that are designed for salespeople, but in business, nearly everyone is a salesperson in some capacity or another.

 Social rank or class is a cornerstone of social interaction in many cultures. The corporate climate in the United States is no exception. People tend to feel uneasy until they’ve seen an “organizational chart” or figured out who reports to whom. They feel that it is more important to show respect and practice etiquette around superiors than around peers or subordinates.

The only thing you owe your boss above and beyond what you owe peers and subordinates is more information. Unobtrusively be sure he or she knows what you’re doing, is alerted as early as possible to issues that may arise, and is aware of outcomes and milestones.

If you’re travelling on business to a foreign destination, or have visitors here, it is a good idea to learn as much as you can about the culture they are coming from and make appropriate allowances.

Items to consider:

• Language (make an effort to learn theirs if possible, but don’t pretend to be fluent unless you have many years of study under your belt!)
• Time zones
• Working schedules
• Holidays
• Food customs (table manners, use of implements, etc.)

It can be insulting to your coworkers or clients to show a lack of concern about your appearance.

Being wrinkled , unshaven, smelly or unkempt communicates (intentionally or not) that you don’t care enough about the situation, the people or the company to present yourself respectably.

If you think a situation may call for dress slacks, wear a dress shirt and tie. If you have any inkling that a suit may be called for, dress to the nines.

Women’s clothing is a bit more complicated, but again, err on the side of conservative and dressy.

The important thing to remember is that if you strive to make the people around you feel comfortable and valued, you have succeeded whether you’re perfectly in compliance with these or any rules you’ve read.