Business etiquette tips for every professional

No Matter How Educated, Talented, Rich or Cool You Believe You are, How You Treat People Ultimately Tells It all- Unknown

During my growing years nobody educated me on the importance of Business Etiquette until I joined the corporate world. In fact, I don’t recall if any one even spoke consciously about the importance of Business Etiquette. Yes, the conversation around dressing well, maintaining the office decorum was all there even then but over the years I have seen a drastic shift over the importance of Business Etiquette. I recently conducted one-month exclusive workshop to one of the Swiss based company of which Business Etiquette was the focused area for the organization. It was definitely one of the most enriching experience I had with the learners. In this blog I will be penning my thoughts on how Business Etiquette will lead one to Success. 

We all understand and are aware that practice makes ones perfect, having said that one should not stop learning and should look at continuous improvement. Similarly, improving your Business Etiquette can have a positive impact on your career. I have often come across where many employees and entrepreneurs overlook the importance of Business Etiquette skills in today’s business world. But it’s equally true most often you will hear people complain they don’t know how to start a conversation. People complain they always forget names and don’t seem to remember. People search for information on how to appear confident. And all of these are very important in the competitive world that we are in today. Isn’t it true? Will you be comfortable if the person forgets your name to address? Or Will you be comfortable to hire someone who is not confident? Do you struggle to initiate small talks when you to one of your important work events, networking events or social gatherings? If you have answered yes to all of the above that shows Business Etiquette is extremely important and should be considered as one of the must have learnings. 

I am sharing top compelling reasons as to why Business Etiquette skills are key to Success.

It never happens we Can NOT Communicate: Body language can make or break a deal. How you carry yourself when engaged in conversation is often as important as what you say. Body language is nonverbal, but it communicates volumes about you nonetheless. As per the research it is said that nonverbal communication conveys as much as 93% of our overall communication messages. Now you know why the saying “Actions speak louder than words” is so apt. Nonverbal cues are our actions and behaviors, facial expressions and gestures, and vocal cues. Keeping in mind the considerations of courtesy and etiquette, you want to be sure that your nonverbal communication cues are sending the same courteous, respectful and honest messages as your words themselves. You may be able to say with your body and actions what you can't say with your words, lest you risk offense. 

We don’t work in Isolation: We deal with people every day and there is no escape to this. Regardless of whether you’re meeting people face-to-face, over a zoom (current universal norm) or exchanging e-mails, it’s important you nurture and look after your professional reputation, especially if you want to project the right impression and succeed in business. After all it’s all about your Personal Brand. True isn’t it? I can’t disagree that over the years the importance of Business Etiquette has only been increasing both online and Offline.

It Build’s Trust and Respect: Business Etiquette is all about building an environment of Trust and Respect. And who wouldn’t want that? We all want to be trusted and respected and not to forget it also brings in a sense of security. It speaks about the culture as well. Isn’t it? However, building the trust factor doesn’t come naturally. It requires an understanding of how people work. This is where skills in Business Etiquette become important. This will help you understand how people work, be able to build stronger relationships with your Boss, Colleagues, Customers, clients which will lead to greater achievements and success. 

Enhances Your Impression: We have been hearing First Impression so often isn’t it? It takes less than 7 seconds for someone to form your impression then why not make it worthwhile. Humans are judgmental and we can’t get away with it. Hence it becomes more important how are we carrying ourselves in the professional and social environment. If one doesn’t know the proper way of hand shake or how to offer a business card, others may raise an eye brow on his or her business skills. By have the right Business Etiquette skills it can help professionals portray confidence and create the worthwhile First Impression.

It enhances your Productivity and Relationships: These skills help you to lead people, approach complex situations in an intelligent manner, and solve work-related problems or misunderstandings. Isn’t that amazing. 

Endorses Your Personal Brand: As Products and Services you offer are extremely important similarly Business Etiquette skills are non-negotiable. Being noticed for your great business etiquette skills is a sure way to get recognized and moved up the competitive ladder.

Did you know?

Recruiters feel that if the candidate is not well groomed it influences their selection decision

Not only top employers in fact every employer seek candidate who they feel will demonstrate Empathy

Small courtesies seeing like a Thank You note in appreciation is well received and gives a person an edge in business dealings

One who knows to manages his First Impression opens his door for success and acceptance 

Research conducted by Harvard University says that 85% of career success come from having a well-developed Soft Skills and 15% of job success comes from Technical skills (hard skills) and knowledge. 

Business Etiquette is vital in today’s competitive business world. We all use our Etiquette skills to a certain degree each time we speak to a coworker, use the phone or interact with customers. comprehending basic etiquette in the workplace helps things run a bit smoother. With the inclusion of work etiquette, companies can see a variety of benefits. And, if you add international relations into the mix, knowing the importance of business etiquette becomes all that much more critical.

Professional etiquette training is beneficial for companies and individuals. The professional success of an individual depends on how well he or she can build strong relationships. When an individual succeeds, the company that he or she works for will also succeed. A lack of business etiquette will limit your potential, harm your personal brand, and jeopardize relationships that are fundamental to your success. Utilizing proper business etiquette often allows for more growth within the company. Having a sense of proper etiquette also inspires open minds that are inclusive to diversity. Vigilantly observe the corporate culture in which you work, and be aware that change will happen. 

There is no shortage of competent and reliable people in the business world and manners can make the difference. Wouldn't you rather collaborate with, work for or buy from someone who has high standards of professional behavior? Do you agree?

It’s okay to make mistakes!

It’s important to remember that it’s okay to make mistakes; Nobody is perfect. As long as you’re constantly growing and learning from those mistakes

What are some other important business etiquette rules? Share in the comments below.

We conduct Executive Coaching, Soft Skills Training, Human Resources and Leadership Training programs. We have expertise in the field of Corporate Training. All our programs are tailor made based on the objectives of our clients.

Ashwini Dasgupta is a Personal Development and NLP Trainer and a startup enthusiast. She has her own venture into Training and Coaching where she closely works with multiple corporates and individuals for their success. 

To know more about our work you can visit www.ashwinidasgupta.com