How to Practice Effective Business Etiquette

Good business etiquette is crucial in any business setting. It could mean the difference between bagging a project and losing one. It could also mean the difference between getting that promotion and losing the chance. For maximum success, follow these easy business etiquette tips.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Treat everyone with respect, be it your boss, colleague, janitor or the secretary. If you are courteous to everyone, no matter what the situation, people will be by your side.

2. Avoid using slangs in everyday conversation. Do as you please once you are outside the office. But using slang in a professional setting is uncalled for.

3. Email and Phone etiquette are equally important in the office. Keep emails short, precise, free of slangs and free of grammatical/punctuation errors. When it comes to phone etiquette, always return a call and don't ever cross-talk when someone is talking to you.

4. Punctuality shows how professional you are and also, how much you value your and your colleague’s time. So never make anyone wait. If you are running late for some reason, let the person know.

5. Appreciate people in your office by congratulating them on promotions, wishing them on their birthdays and festivals.

6. Dressing is yet another aspect of business etiquette that you must pay attention too. Men need to look presentable. If your office environment is formal, don't ever wear sneakers, clothes that are crumpled, tattered pants etc. You can show how hip you are outside the office. For women too, dressing needs to be classy and formal. Don't wear short dresses and bold prints to work.

7. When you are conversing with someone, always maintain good posture, eye contact and listen carefully. Don't get distracted or seem uninterested (even if that is the case). Women need to be extra careful when they are wearing skirts. If they want to cross their legs, it's best to cross them at the ankles.

8. If you are scheduling a meeting, you need to work out the details in advance. Send out the following Agenda to all the participants of the meeting- Objective of the meeting; venue; schedule; action items to be discussed and names of speakers. Also, attach any relevant documentation, to the meeting request that you send out.

9. When the meeting ends, distribute the minutes of the meeting to all the participants. It's also a good practice to thank the participants for their time and effort.

10. If you are going to a foreign land on a business trip, educate yourself about the local traditions and social no-nos of the place. Also, research the gifts that you can and can't give, when visiting a specific country. Some gifts might be offensive to the locals.

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[paulo55]

on 11/16/2009 How to Practice Effective Business Etiquette. Great article! Very good information.