As a business coach, I’m often asked by organizations to help with business etiquette. It always amazes me to find out how little even top management knows about how to behave in a professional setting. Well, okay – maybe they KNOW HOW to behave – they just sometimes fail to follow through.
The most basic rule of all is simply to act courteous to everyone (no matter what the title or position) and show respect to all. It’s sometimes surprising to find out just how much power the housekeeping and maintenance staff has!
Here are some reminders of simple ways to show respect:
- Use the manners you were taught as a child, like saying “Please” and “Thank you” and apologizing when you err. Everyone appreciates common courtesy.
- Make every effort to remember people’s names. The old excuse of “I’m just no good with names” is not acceptable. Remembering a person’s name shows that he or she is important to you.
- Always be 5-10 minutes early to every meeting. Being late is disrespectful to all other attendees.
- Return phone calls and email requests for information as soon as possible – even if just to acknowledge that you got the message and that you’ll be getting back with them when you have the information.
- Dress for business. When a man wears a wrinkled shirt or ratty shoes, it sends a message that he doesn’t care about the image he’s projecting. The same can be said of the woman that reveals cleavage with her top or with her too-tight pants. What you would wear for an after-work or weekend event is probably unacceptable business attire.
- Smile and make eye contact when meeting someone and give a firm handshake. Although that sounds like a “no brainer,” you’d be surprised how many limp handshakes I’m offered!
By using these fundamental tips and always remembering to treat people the way you think they want to be treated, you’ll go a long way in making a favorable impression in the business world.