| |
These are the social rules of the road. The notion of
etiquette is not meant to create an elite wall between yourself and
those of another group. They are rules of conduct
set forth to ensure everyone is made to feel comfortable. In the
business world, your etiquette is watched closely and certain infractions
can be devastating to your career. Business Etiquette considers
how you relate with others, your appearance, what you do and how you do
it. What you don't do is equally important.
If you are
to build a rapport with a colleague, supervisor or an interviewer, then
there are a few immediate areas of consideration which we should draw
your attention to: The Written Word (Cover Letter, Resume, Email and
Business Card), Networking and Meetings (Interviews, Dinning, Travel and
Business Social Events). If considered and practiced, the artful
delivery of good business etiquette should positively effect the
relationship you desire to establish.
Often,
business etiquette is overlooked. In an environment of business
casual, the expectation of proper etiquette has also relaxed to the
detriment of many. You may never be remembered for always
performing to highest standards of morals and proper etiquette.
However, you will certainly be remembered if you greatly offend a person
you wish to be aligned with. That is not the lasting
impression you want to leave with a business associate. Good
business etiquette is not only a sign of an astute business person, but it
also denotes one who is unwavering in customer service.
Below is
list of Business Etiquette suggestions:
The Written Word-Cover Letter, Resume, Email and Business
Card
Networking
Meetings-Interviews
Telephone
Dinning
Travel
Business Social Events
The Written Word-Cover
Letter, Resume, Email and Business Card
Do's
-
Ensure all
written forms of communication have been checked for grammatical and
spelling errors. This would seem rudimentary. However, a
large percentage of resumes are regularly submitted to recruiters
that have never been checked for spelling errors.
-
Your Cover
Letter should be succinct and specific in its intention.
Remember to thank the party you are submitting it to for their time
and consideration.
-
Write a second
iteration. Second drafts are often more tightly written and
stay on course. You don't want to bore the reader.
-
Check email
frequently. Its expedient nature demands a response of equal
pace.
-
Ensure your
emails are short and poignant.
-
Give out your
card to those you intend to be in contact with. It is consider
to be a social gesture of good will or gift. Therefore, to
indiscriminately distribute these to everyone at a social business
gathering diminishes its worth.
Don'ts
-
Do not submit your communication on overly ornate or brassy paper.
Some schools of thought suggest that a Candidate strive for
individuality in order to be considered. Although the
philosophy has merit, by this time in your career, the merits of
your education and experience should more than captivate the
interviewer.
-
Do not submit a generic Cover Letter. It is highly offensive
as it insults the reader. You should discuss in particular
what is of most interest to you about the available position.
An interested and enthusiastic Candidate is most often hired for
that reason.
-
Do not wax
rhetoric in your correspondence. If you prattle on too long,
then the reader will likely dismiss your submitted form of writing
and move on to the next Candidate. Remember, the interviewer
is weighted down with many profiles to consider. You want your
candidacy to be carefully considered and not dismissed before it had
a fair hearing.
-
Do not submit
confidential material, lewd comments, scandalous gossip or jokes in
poor taste by email. (or any other means)
-
Do not write
on business cards given to you. This is considered a great
insult as it destroys a social gesture or gift.
Return to Top
Networking
Do's
-
Ensure you acquaint yourself with the guest list. Know
specifics about those attending. This little bit of
reconnaissance will pay big dividends.
-
Remember to render a firm handshake: too loose a grip will make you
look weak, too firm will make you appear desperate.
-
Seek first to
understand and then to be understood. Further, pose questions
which evoke answers that help you comprehend their likes and
dislikes.
-
Ensure you are appropriately dressed. Wearing kakis and a polo
to a black tie affair will leave a lasting impression (a bad one).
-
Discuss relevant issues which are consistent with the theme or
reason for the gathering. Remember, this is a business affair
and not a back yard bar-b-que.
Don'ts
-
Do not gossip.
Under no circumstances is this acceptable behavior. This
undermines your credibility and chips away at the foundation of the
company you represent.
-
Do not over
dress for an occasion. This is as inappropriate as under
dressing. It is condescending to everyone attending the
occasion and will have the effect of ostracizing your presence from
future events.
-
Do not wear
excessive or inappropriate jewelry.
-
When
it comes time for you to talk about yourself, do not go on ad nausium. Further, do not use this event to work out any
personal issues you have. This is sometimes a common but
unwelcome behavior at business social gatherings where alcohol is
involved.
-
Do not over
drink. Know what your limits are. Nothing limits
opportunity more than the social stigma of having a substance abuse
problem.
-
Do not spend
an inordinate amount of time with acquaintances. Ensure you
meet as many new people as possible. After all, this is the
reason for the business social: Networking.
Return to Top
Meetings-Interviews
Do's
-
Be on time.
Being late to an interview leaves an extremely bad first impression.
-
Arrive with questions in hand. This demonstrates a few key
portions of your character. This shows you are prepared to
demonstrate your knowledge of the company. Initiative is an
important personality trait to be successful in business. It
also demonstrates you are eager. Enthusiasm is one of the
cornerstones of success.
-
Be
professionally dressed. This clearly conveys you understand
social convention and will likely get along with others well.
This also demonstrates your respect for the interviewer and the
Employer.
-
Speak with confidence. This is your time to shine. Show
the interviewer what you are made of and what you can do for their
company.
-
Ensure you look over "The Interview"
portion of the Tools menu for greater
detail on the interview process.
Don'ts
-
Do not leave
your cell phone on. It is considered to be an insult to the
interviewer if the phone rings while in an interview.
-
Do not fidget.
This demonstrates your discomfort with the interview or interviewer.
It can also communicate a lack of confidence.
-
Do not linger
too long on any response. You don't want to bore the
interviewer
-
Do not chew
gum, wear strong fragrances, excessive Jewelry or loud clothing.
Your appearance should be professional yet understated.
Impress the interviewer with your talents without obnoxiously
distracting him/her with your attire.
Return to Top
Telephone
Do's
-
Plan out your
phone call.
-
Treat a telephone call as you would any other form of
correspondence. -Be sincere, polite, quick to make your point
and leave all necessary contact information.
-
Return calls as soon as you possibly can.
-
Speak in a strong and clear voice. Remember to project
confidence and not arrogance.
Don'ts
-
Do not ramble on the phone. Nothing is more annoying when
following up on phone messages than listening to someone prattle on
for five minutes.
-
Do not place
the person you called on hold as this is considered offensive.
If you cannot commit to making a call without interruption, then you
should clear whatever circumstance will encumber your phone call and
then make it. Remember to keep the person you are calling in
mind.
-
Do not forget the reason for the call. Be clear about why you
are calling. If you leave a jumbled pile of differing issues
for the listener to consider, then you are likely to accomplish very
little.
Return to Top
Dinning
Do's
-
If you are
hosting the meal at a restaurant or have invited the guests, then
expect to pay for the meal.
-
Remember to
respect all the traditional table manors expected: chew with your
mouth closed, elbows off the table, do not reach across someone's
plate, etc.
-
Ensure
everyone is satisfied with their meal.
-
If business is
to be discussed, then ensure all the main points are covered quickly
so that your group has time to eat their food without being rushed.
Unless you have come with a contract in hand, most business dining
is by no means a final close to a business deal. The meal is
meant to cover the main points of a business opportunity in a
relaxed environment. In that light, host or attend a business
meal with that sentiment in mind.
-
Keep the
duration of the meal to no more than an hour if it is a lunch.
You do want to touch on the necessary topics of discussion.
However, you also want to convey respect for their company.
Their time is quite valuable and should not be wasted on idle
discussion over lunch.
Don'ts
-
Do not assume
you know what your guests are going to want to eat if you are
meeting at a restaurant.
-
If you are
hosting a private dinner and the food is being catered, then do not
forget to send all the guest a menu of what is being served.
There may be special food considerations you will need to prepare
for.
-
Do not engage
in gossip. If gossip does surface during the meal, politely
attempt to change the subject. Never participate in gossip if
it continues.
-
Do not become
so engrossed in the energy of the dinner that you forget the
business capacity for which the dinner was assembled.
-
Do not drink
alcohol if it is a business luncheon. It sends the wrong
message to others and tends to condone a lackadaisical attitude
towards your business responsibilities.
Return to Top
Travel
Do's
-
Remember why you are on the trip. It is easy to think of a
business trip as a mini vacation. It is not. Try to
imagine how you would feel if it were your company and some young
executive was only working part time or not at all while you were
paying for the entire trip.
-
Remember that you are an ambassador of your company. If you
behave offensively towards someone, then, by proxy you make your
company an offending party.
-
Dress respectably. This is a business trip and not a vacation.
This speaks more to your character and sense of self respect.
Don'ts
-
Do not abuse
the expense account. Once again, think about how you would
feel if the company were yours and one of your executives turned in
an enormous expense report that was scarcely justifiable.
-
Do not drink
excessively and not at all during the business day. For some
people, the moment they step foot onto a plane, their inhibitions
relax considerably. Do not give into this urge. Consider
your travel time to be a day at the office. Remember, you are
still on the clock.
-
Do not carry
on unprofessionally because you are 1000 miles away from the office.
The "out of town rules" do not apply to business travel.
Return to Top
Business Social Events
Do's
-
Dress appropriately. Being under dress will make you appear to
be less than astute. If you are overly dress, then you will
appear to be condescending.
-
Enjoy yourself. However, remember why you are at the event.
-
Ensure you spend a few minutes with as many people as possible.
It is a sign of respect to all the guests.
-
If you are hosting the event, then ensure everyone has been made to
feel comfortable.
-
Engage in other peoples lives. Pose poignant question which give
rise to in depth explanations to aid in building a business
relationship.
Don'ts
-
Do not over
indulge with alcohol. You are there in a business capacity and
are representing your company.
-
Do not spend
too much time with your friends. The function of the event is
to support business.
-
Do not gossip.
It is in bad taste and demonstrates a lack of character.
-
Do not
dominate a conversation or talk too much about yourself.
Return to Top
|
|
