Etiquette: Introduction
- Etiquette is the formal rules of correct or polite behavior in society or among members of a particular profession.
- A poor etiquette can drive away customers, investors, and other critical audiences– and it can limit your career potential.
Etiquette in the Workplace
- Workplace etiquette refers to a variety of behaviors, habits, and aspects of non-verbal communication.
- We need to consider the following for etiquette in the workplace:
- Pay attention to the style of dress.
- Pay close attention to cleanliness.
- Avoid using products with powerful scents.
- Personal behavior is of high importance if it is a traditional type of office. A single negative personality can make an entire office miserable and unproductive.
- Don’t ask irrelevant questions.
- Keep personal items off the table.
Telephone Etiquette
Using telephone is an essential part in business. The following phone etiquette should be taken into consideration:
- Use frequent verbal responses like “oh yes”, “I see”, . Avoid using poor language.
- Do not take up much time. Speak clearly and get right to the point.
- Establish the needs of your caller by asking, “ how may I help you?”
- Use your normal tone of voice while answering a call.
- Do not eat or drink while you are on telephone duty.
- Keep changing your pitch.
- Stay focused on call throughout your telephone call.
- Address the caller properly by his or her title like “ Good morning Mr. Thapa…)
- If you want to keep someone on hold, tell him or her politely that he or she will be on hold.
- Identify you and your company.
- If you forward a call to someone else, try to speak with that person first to verify that s/he is available.
- Be interested to sound interesting.
Etiquette in Social Setting
You represent your company when you are in public, so etiquette continues to be important outside the organization’s walls. This can happen from business lunches to industry conferences. We need to consider the following to maintain the etiquette in social setting:
- Be aware of the passive “dead fish” handshake as it gives an extremely negative impression. Make a firm handshake.
- Stand , if possible, while shaking hands.
- Clearly introduce yourself with your first name, last name, and your role in the company.
- Maintain good dining etiquette. Start by choosing foods that are easy to eat.
- Avoid alcoholic beverages in most instances, but if one is appropriate, save it for the end of the meal.
- Leave business documents under your chair until entrée plates have been removed; the business aspect of the meal does not usually begin until then.
- Finally, don’t talk about politics, religion or any other topic which may stir up emotions. Don’t ask deeply personal questions; be aware of humors.
Etiquette Online ( Netiquette)
Netiquette means respecting other users’ views and displaying common courtesy while posting your views and other information to online discussion groups. Here are some guidelines to follow whenever your company while using electronic media:
- Avoid personal attack: don’t threaten.
- Stay focused on the original topic. If you want to change the subject of an email exchange, start a new message.
- Don’t present opinions as facts, support the facts with evidence.
- Follow basic expectations of spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.
- Use virus protection and keep it up to date.
- Ask if there is a good time for an IM chat.
- Watch your language and keep your emotions under control.
- Avoid multitasking while using IM.
- Never assume privacy. ( This can be read by many)
- Don’t use “reply all” in e-mail unless everyone can benefit from your reply.
- Don’t waste other’s time with confusing ,or incomplete messages. Doing so is disrespectful.
