Business Etiquette Made Easy: The Essential Guide to Professional Success
by Meier, Myka · 88 highlights
Your back should not be touching the back of the chair.
Remember, no elbows on the table . . . ever. Not at a desk, dinner table, or boardroom table.
Being on time tells the person or people you are meeting that you respect their schedules. Being late shows a lack of consideration for other people and can be very frustrating if you are on the receiving end of a late business companion. This also goes for conference calls, group chats, and Skype meetings.
If it’s someone internally at your company who has asked for a meeting, you can show up to the meeting room on the dot of the time of the requested meeting.
If you’re ever invited to a colleague’s home for something like a holiday party, and the invitation says 7:00 p.m., this is when you should never arrive even one moment early, as it’s a private home and you may catch your host still preparing. For a private home, I recommend showing up about ten minutes after the start time and always with a host gift in hand.
What do you do if you’re running late and it is out of your hands? Follow the Meier Method for running late, which is for every minute you think you are going to be late, give two minutes’ notice. For example, if you are stuck in traffic and think you are going to be ten minutes late to a business lunch, you should give twenty minutes’ notice if possible
becoming an effective communicator in business is crucial to your success.
When you walk into someone’s office, sometimes you will be offered a glass of water and you should say yes! It helps both you and the person offering a moment to relax and acclimate before you jump into the meeting. Water is also great to have if you get nervous. Make sure you take at least a sip or two so it looks natural and don’t ask for it and then just let it wastefully sit there untouched.
When you’re attending a meeting at someone else’s office, be aware of the following: • Keep your personal phone out of sight • Never bring your own coffee or drink to someone else’s office; it creates garbage when you leave • Be aware that you are being observed at all times when with a client • Everything you say should remain professional not only in the meeting but also in the lobby, reception area, and restrooms. Even in elevators or when you have left the floor of the office you were visiting, you’re still on their turf and anything you say or do can be held against you!
be professional no matter which method of communication you’re using.
Q: Is there an order of whose email is put first in the recipient line when writing a group email? A: Yes! You always put the most senior name/email first, followed by any other emails in order of rank.
I recommend keeping emails as short as possible to keep the recipient’s attention. If you have actionable items or points you want to draw specific attention to, include a few bullets that stand out in the body of the email. Always include next steps in an email if possible.
Q: What are the proper closings to sign off a formal email in business? A: “Best regards,” is the most professional closing
Do I have to keep being formal in my opening greeting if the email has been going back-and-forth multiple times in communication? A: No. After the first couple of emails back-and-forth, a formal greeting may start to come across as unnatural.
Q: How do I address a large team on an email? A: For informal groups or emails you can say “Dear all,”
Mastering nonverbal communication is key for successful conversations and interactions in business.
The secret is when someone is listening to you, watch their eyes and mouth together. What these two parts of the face are doing at the same time tells you how to respond.
Head nods are a great form of nonverbal communication to see from someone you are speaking with. By nodding their head in conversation, the other person is expressing that they are on board with you and agreeing with what you are saying.
Correcting bad etiquette is bad etiquette.
If you have an issue with someone, like a colleague, don’t let it get worse and worse until you are so angry you can’t think straight. Don’t let your frustrations hit the boiling point. Instead, address the issue upfront and politely, and have a suggested solution ready.