Business etiquette formula for all occasions
By Nicole Raphael, MA, Guest Columnist
Professionals need to bring their A-game every day, or risk being replaced. The current competitive business environment dictates that in addition to having sharp business acumen, it’s essential that you behave appropriately in all occasions – from the boardroom to the ballroom and from conferences to conventions.
Your professional performance is constantly under scrutiny by colleagues, clients, future customers and higher-ups and impacts on whether you will be offered choice assignments and promotions. Therefore, if you’re always flubbing an introduction or missing an opportunity to captivate the crowd with your good manners, then you’re letting yourself down. The good news is that you can learn to be a polished professional by following a business etiquette formula based on three fundamental principles: Attitude, Behaviour, and Courtesy.
Attitude
Always look on the bright side. Yes, everyone has a bad day, but you needn’t wear your annoyance or anger on your sleeve. Take control of your attitude by silence the self-deprecating mental chatter that reminds you of your failures and flaws. It really isn’t helpful to constantly replay the time you forgot an important person’s name or were embarrassed by using the desert spoon during the soup course. Replace these negative thoughts with empowering affirmations. The bottom line is that you will repel people if you are thinking or behaving in a negative manner. This includes gossiping, sulking, wining and generally being a glass-half-empty type of person. If you need an attitude adjustment, get help from a life or etiquette coach now.
Behaviour
Genuinely enjoy others. To be well-mannered is to truly love people. Relationships have always been paramount in business; indeed, we all know that lots of major deals are struck on the golf course. The key here is to develop an earnest, beyond the boardroom, concern for people. In caring for others, you show them reverence, which along with courtesy are two of the core foundations of etiquette.
Additionally, watch your body language. Whether you’re in control of the messages or not, you’re constantly communicating without saying a word. Projecting personal power with your posture is important, but you don’t want to give off overly domineering or intimating vibes. Along the same vein, you should know when it’s appropriate to lighten up. For instance, at your company’s holiday party. It’s difficult for people around you to be at ease when you are high-strung. Command presence is a learned skill. Contact an etiquette coach if you want to take control of the way you come across to others.
Courtesy
Treat others as you want to be treated. The golden rule certainly applies in business etiquette. Networking events are a great place to observe fatal etiquette faux pass. One of the worst offences that I see is when people at business events cling to each other, forming impenetrable cliques. Instead of appearing welcoming and courteous, these people come across as self-absorbed and generally disinterested. Discourteousness in appearance or act is ill-advised, so don’t form networking fortresses at social events. Instead, circulate and be open to meeting people. Another failsafe tip in business is to always put yourself in the shoes of the other person and ask yourself “how would I like to be treated?”
Remembering the ABC’s of business etiquette will help you project the utmost professionalism in the world of business.
Nicole Raphael, MA, is a Senior Career Strategist with Heckers Development Group, LTD. She brings many years of personal branding and marketing experience. Reach Nicole Raphael at 303.480.5484 or email her at nraphael@heckersdev.com