© Carole Kanchier, PhD
carole@daretochange.com
www.questersdaretochange.com
GOOD BUSINESS ETIQUETTE PAYS OFF
Have you had business contacts with either very good or very poor manners in the past year? If so, what were your thoughts and feelings?
Business etiquette involves the subtle but critical behaviors that can make important meetings, influence first impressions, or impress potential clients and customers.
Good manners are good business. Many potentially profitable alliances are lost because of unintended breaches of manners. Second chances aren’t always possible.
Test your business etiquette
1. Your boss, Ms. Andrews, enters the room when you’re meeting with a client, Mr. Block. You rise and say, “Ms. Andrews, I’d like you to meet Mr. Block, our Montreal client.”
2. You answer the phone for a peer who’s available, and ask “Who’s calling please?”
3. It’s appropriate to take phone calls while in meetings.
4. The male pays when he’s having a business meeting at a restaurant with a female colleague.
5. When you greet a visitor in your office, you let him sit where he wishes.
6. You leave a luncheon meeting after two hours.
7. You’re scheduled to meet an associate for a working lunch. If your associate hasn’t arrived after 30 minutes, you order and eat.
8. Name tags should be placed on the right shoulder.
9. It’s acceptable to make sales pitches at networking functions.
10. It’s proper to give business cards to everyone at business meetings.
Answers
1. Inappropriate. Introduce or name the more important person first. In business, clients hold the highest authority. The person of lesser importance, regardless of gender, is introduced to the person of greater importance. “Mr. Greater Authority (Mr. Block), I’d like to introduce Ms. Lesser Authority (Ms. Andrews).”
2. Inappropriate. Asking “Who’s calling?” suggests calls are screened. To avoid insults, the person answering the phone could announce you’re unavailable, then ask for the caller’s name and message.
To avoid screening, announce yourself at the beginning of calls. By stating your name, you’re sending a subliminal message that you have a right to speak to the person.
3. Inappropriate. Taking calls while in a meeting suggests others are more important than the person with whom you’re meeting.
4. Inappropriate. The person who benefits from the business association pays, regardless of gender.
5. Inappropriate. Indicating where your guest should sit will make him feel more comfortable.
6. Appropriate. Allow two hours for business lunches. Start discussing business after the appetizer has been served.
7. Appropriate. Also, expect an apology.
8. Appropriate. When shaking hands, your eyes follow the line of the arm to the person’s right side. By placing the tag on the right, you can read the name while shaking hands.
9. Inappropriate. You’ll be perceived as pushy, needy, insensitive or inexperienced.
10. Inappropriate. Wait until you’ve established a reason to make further contact before exchanging cards.
Always employ such basic courtesies as returning messages promptly, leaving concise voice mail messages, greeting people when entering an office, and saying, “Please,” “Thank you,” and “You’re welcome.”
Tag: Dr. Carole Kanchier, career and personal growth expert, is author of the award winning, groundbreaking , purposeful book, “Questers Dare to Change Your Job and Life.” www.questersdaretochange.com. Carole Kanchier inspires people to realize their potential and look at career growth in new ways. A career visionary, Dr. Kanchier pioneered a unique, holistic, developmental model of lifelong growth and decision making which she shares in “Questers.” Uniquely qualified to talk about career issues, Kanchier researches, writes, counsels, and conducts workshops on career development. She walks her talk!
