Social Etiquette for Business
Social etiquette rules govern all kinds of human behavior and provide guidelines for a variety of social interactions. One such setting requiring social etiquette is business. In the workplace, it is necessary to be mindful of others and conduct oneself in an appropriate manner.
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Purpose
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In a corporate setting, it is important to be mindful of those who share the workplace. Businesses have different levels of formality, but every company employee should follow some basic rules of common courtesy to make being at work as enjoyable, or at least as tolerable, as possible. It is important to realize that co-workers need to exist in the same workplace and should be extended as much respect as possible.
Sounds
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An important area of social etiquette in a business setting is sound. Consider the volume of your voice. This is good etiquette for a couple of reasons. The first is simply that a loud, boisterous voice can be distracting for other employees and be detrimental to their ability to complete tasks. The other reason to monitor the volume of conversations is the fact that some business information is confidential and should not be conveyed to the entire office.
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Sights
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Company policy will typically dictate how employees are suggested or required to dress, but it is proper etiquette for you to attend work in clean clothing. Dirty or damaged clothing shows poor taste in many business settings. Beyond dress, it is a good idea to keep your workspace as tidy as possible. This includes refraining from having too many personal items. A couple of photos or a piece of artwork from a child is fine, but to have an excessive amount may clutter the work area.
Scents
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Some employees and businesspeople will choose to wear perfume or cologne to work. This is acceptable provided that the aroma is not too strong or pungent. A tiny amount will generally suffice and leave a pleasant scent without being overpowering.
While some employees may offend by using too much cologne or perfume, it is also unacceptable etiquette to show up at the office without bathing regularly.
Employers may allow workers to eat at their desks, or perhaps they offer a common area such as a cafeteria for lunch breaks. When this is the case, it is important for an employee to be mindful of how the smell of certain foods may bother others.
Gossip
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Gossiping is rude behavior in any social circle but especially inappropriate in a business context. Primarily, gossip has no particular relevance to business matters. Sometimes people forget that work is concerned with producing products or providing service and is not merely a place for social congregation. Another problem with gossip in the workplace is that it can easily come back to the subject of the gossip. This can be hurtful and create a negative work environment. The proper conduct is to avoid beginning or passing along gossip.
Borrowing
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Businesses rely on tools and supplies to maintain functions. When you do not already have the necessary tools at your disposal, you might be inclined to borrow from a co-worker. This can certainly be acceptable, but only as long as the borrower asks permission and returns the property as quickly as possible. Also, borrowed goods should be returned in the best possible condition.
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References
- Photo Credit business colleagues preparing for business meeting image by Vladimir Melnik from Fotolia.com
