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Proper business etiquette is crucial for every working professional. Whether you are working for a large corporation or a mom-and-pop shop, brand new to the working world, or a seasoned professional, proper etiquette can help advance your career and ensure your success.
The term “business etiquette” can be an intimidating concept but, in reality, you probably have more natural skills in this area than you realize.
I am going to outline 10 business etiquette tips for professionals that are both common sense and behaviors you already use in the office and beyond. You will find that behaving in line with popular business culture is easy and sets you up for success.
Before we start a list, I want to add a note about business settings. In today’s world, work can be done from a variety of places, including virtually.
Whether you are in an office, conference room, break room, at a conference or training, out to a meal with clients, or working from home the context of the setting may dictate some fluctuations in etiquette. A good rule of thumb is to be personable but also professional.
Many business dealings are done on the golf course, for example. If you were to play golf with your childhood buddies, it would be a different set of behaviors than playing with your boss or a client.
Mind your manners and remember that even if you are playing a game, you are still working and your behavior should be kept as such.
I am putting this in the number 1 spot because well, you only get one chance to do this. This will usually happen in the interview stage but keep in mind that even if you’ve been put through several rounds of interviews, you probably didn’t meet most of the staff.
Depending on the size of your company or department, you may be meeting new people regularly throughout your first few weeks.
Make a good first impression by smiling and shaking hands as you are introduced to someone new. Give the person a genuine compliment and be open to hearing what “advice” they have for you in your new position.
Here is another tip that could qualify as common sense; but its importance is often overlooked. Whether you are punching a clock to be paid by the hour or are just expected to be in the office around the start of business, getting to work early is vital.
To accomplish this, you must allow extra time for travel to avoid unforeseen delays. If you take public transportation or drive yourself to work, several incidents could occur to make you late to work.
Give yourself time, and you’ll arrive at work less stressed. People will perceive you as motivated and capable when you arrive early.
Establishing a morning routine will help you leave for work at the same time every day. If you need motivation to keep to a morning routine, apps like Focus Bear can help. Focus Bear can assist you in creating a series of morning activities, like meditation, to ensure you start your day on the right foot.
Another area where knowing the workplace environment is vital. I once showed up for an interview at a homeless shelter in a suit (true story).
Not only was I overdressed, but I also gave the impression of being less relatable to the clients. Conversely, be mindful not to underdress. If it is the climax of the summer and your office doesn’t have air conditioning, dress light and casually but keep your body parts hidden. Revealing too much skin is a complete “no-no” in the office.
Whether it is one-on-one or in a group, being mindful of how you communicate with others is vital. Essentially, it comes down to not just what you say but how you say it.
Engaging in gossip or rumor spreading about your colleagues or superiors would be disrespectful and detrimental to the workplace environment. You don’t want to earn a reputation for being judgmental or untrustworthy.
This tip boils down to working with emotional intelligence. One of the best ways to learn the acceptable policies and practices of your office is to carefully model the behavior of others. Larger corporations may have a Human Resources department with a liaison you can access for larger questions or they may provide training on their important policies.
You may be working in an open cubicle area or perhaps the shared space you encounter is just the break room fridge where everyone stores their lunch. Regardless of what space you are sharing, taking care to be respectful of others by not using up a majority of the space, cleaning up after yourself, and talking at a volume that allows others to speak as well are good examples.
You may be in a rush or simply distracted by other tasks you have waiting for you, but always, always proofread your emails. An email is an electronic document.
The information you provide in this document can be used against you. If you make a mistake, it cannot be taken back and will exist in cyberspace forever.
Misspellings and grammatical errors will also show a lack of effort and skill on your part. That is not how you should represent yourself or your company.
Have you ever sent off an important email looking for an answer to a problem and were anxious for the reply? Now imagine that the person who can give you the response was lazy to reply and maybe checking their social media instead of getting back to you.
How would that feel? While every situation is not that dramatic, responding promptly is simply a matter of respect.
Most people don’t intend to create a delay. However, there are many distractions in the office that make it easy to get off task. Using an application like Focus Bear can help you stay on task so you can respond promptly.
Focus Bear will run on your computer and block distractions such as emails or pop ups. You can set the timer and work diligently for a period. If you are prone to distractions, consider giving Focus Bear a try.
Good manners give the appearance of a polished and grateful person. Always say “Please” and “thank you”. Using your manners in a professional context will convey a culture of respect and appreciation.
Occasionally, doing business may take place over a meal. Proper etiquette in this setting is to remember some key elements of good restaurant behavior: be kind to the wait staff, never talk with food in your mouth, elbows off the table, and use your napkin.
Additionally, being a good conversationalist and asking your dining partner thoughtful questions about themselves will make the experience more enjoyable for both parties.
Most of these tips are a mix of common sense mixed and business know-how. The best advice is to be relatable and respectful. Observe the climate of your office and emulate the behaviors of other workers you admire. Keep your productivity high and use tools like Focus Bear to ensure you are meeting deadlines.
The occasional mistake or blunder may happen. Address it with accountability and professionalism and you will get right back on track. When in doubt, ask yourself how you would want to be treated in the situation. The “Golden Rule” applies to business as well as personal life and is the best metric to live by.
Business Environment
Personal Development
Corporate Training
Proper business etiquette is crucial for every working professional. Whether you are working for a large corporation or a mom-and-pop shop, brand new to the working world, or a seasoned professional, proper etiquette can help advance your career and ensure your success.
The term “business etiquette” can be an intimidating concept but, in reality, you probably have more natural skills in this area than you realize.
I am going to outline 10 business etiquette tips for professionals that are both common sense and behaviors you already use in the office and beyond. You will find that behaving in line with popular business culture is easy and sets you up for success.
Before we start a list, I want to add a note about business settings. In today’s world, work can be done from a variety of places, including virtually.
Whether you are in an office, conference room, break room, at a conference or training, out to a meal with clients, or working from home the context of the setting may dictate some fluctuations in etiquette. A good rule of thumb is to be personable but also professional.
Many business dealings are done on the golf course, for example. If you were to play golf with your childhood buddies, it would be a different set of behaviors than playing with your boss or a client.
Mind your manners and remember that even if you are playing a game, you are still working and your behavior should be kept as such.
I am putting this in the number 1 spot because well, you only get one chance to do this. This will usually happen in the interview stage but keep in mind that even if you’ve been put through several rounds of interviews, you probably didn’t meet most of the staff.
Depending on the size of your company or department, you may be meeting new people regularly throughout your first few weeks.
Make a good first impression by smiling and shaking hands as you are introduced to someone new. Give the person a genuine compliment and be open to hearing what “advice” they have for you in your new position.
Here is another tip that could qualify as common sense; but its importance is often overlooked. Whether you are punching a clock to be paid by the hour or are just expected to be in the office around the start of business, getting to work early is vital.
To accomplish this, you must allow extra time for travel to avoid unforeseen delays. If you take public transportation or drive yourself to work, several incidents could occur to make you late to work.
Give yourself time, and you’ll arrive at work less stressed. People will perceive you as motivated and capable when you arrive early.
Establishing a morning routine will help you leave for work at the same time every day. If you need motivation to keep to a morning routine, apps like Focus Bear can help. Focus Bear can assist you in creating a series of morning activities, like meditation, to ensure you start your day on the right foot.
Another area where knowing the workplace environment is vital. I once showed up for an interview at a homeless shelter in a suit (true story).
Not only was I overdressed, but I also gave the impression of being less relatable to the clients. Conversely, be mindful not to underdress. If it is the climax of the summer and your office doesn’t have air conditioning, dress light and casually but keep your body parts hidden. Revealing too much skin is a complete “no-no” in the office.
Whether it is one-on-one or in a group, being mindful of how you communicate with others is vital. Essentially, it comes down to not just what you say but how you say it.
Engaging in gossip or rumor spreading about your colleagues or superiors would be disrespectful and detrimental to the workplace environment. You don’t want to earn a reputation for being judgmental or untrustworthy.
This tip boils down to working with emotional intelligence. One of the best ways to learn the acceptable policies and practices of your office is to carefully model the behavior of others. Larger corporations may have a Human Resources department with a liaison you can access for larger questions or they may provide training on their important policies.
You may be working in an open cubicle area or perhaps the shared space you encounter is just the break room fridge where everyone stores their lunch. Regardless of what space you are sharing, taking care to be respectful of others by not using up a majority of the space, cleaning up after yourself, and talking at a volume that allows others to speak as well are good examples.
You may be in a rush or simply distracted by other tasks you have waiting for you, but always, always proofread your emails. An email is an electronic document.
The information you provide in this document can be used against you. If you make a mistake, it cannot be taken back and will exist in cyberspace forever.
Misspellings and grammatical errors will also show a lack of effort and skill on your part. That is not how you should represent yourself or your company.
Have you ever sent off an important email looking for an answer to a problem and were anxious for the reply? Now imagine that the person who can give you the response was lazy to reply and maybe checking their social media instead of getting back to you.
How would that feel? While every situation is not that dramatic, responding promptly is simply a matter of respect.
Most people don’t intend to create a delay. However, there are many distractions in the office that make it easy to get off task. Using an application like Focus Bear can help you stay on task so you can respond promptly.
Focus Bear will run on your computer and block distractions such as emails or pop ups. You can set the timer and work diligently for a period. If you are prone to distractions, consider giving Focus Bear a try.
Good manners give the appearance of a polished and grateful person. Always say “Please” and “thank you”. Using your manners in a professional context will convey a culture of respect and appreciation.
Occasionally, doing business may take place over a meal. Proper etiquette in this setting is to remember some key elements of good restaurant behavior: be kind to the wait staff, never talk with food in your mouth, elbows off the table, and use your napkin.
Let’s inspire each other, get organized and stay energized.
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