How to Address a Person at a Place of Business
The quality of your relationships with other people in your line of business can determine your overall experience at work. That's why it's best to use proper etiquette when addressing someone, whether in writing or in person, at a place of business. As a rule of thumb, keep things formal. Addressing others in a formal fashion will show that you respect their position and that you'd like to be taken seriously.
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Instructions
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Written Address
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Write all correspondence using proper business letter format with all components left aligned. If you're composing an email, plan to write a proper salutation before you get to your message.
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Use the full name of the person you are contacting in the recipient's address section. Include the person's title, if known. Write "Dr. Lucy Mars" or "CEO Sara Bailey," for example.
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Address the person by her first name in the salutation or greeting only if you have regular contact in this manner. Write "Dear Dr. Lucy," for instance, making sure to include the title. It's important to include the title when contacting someone at their place of business in order to maintain formality. Even if you're reaching out to your best friend, professionalism comes first.
Verbal Address
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Pay close attention to how people introduce themselves or are introduced to you. This will let you know exactly how an individual would like to be addressed.
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Ask, if unsure, instead of guessing at how to address a person at a place of business. Save yourself the embarrassment of referring to Headmistress Whitfield as Shirley, for example. If you feel uncomfortable asking "What can I call you?" you can ask "What do you prefer to be called?" instead.
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Avoid using nicknames in the workplace, even if you're friendly outside the office. In general, it displays a lack of professional integrity that might distract others from your workplace contributions.
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References
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