Business Etiquette Made Easy: The Essential Guide to Professional Success

Make sure you come prepared to any meeting you are invited to attend. Coming prepared means doing your homework and knowing about the topic being discussed, especially if you anticipate that you will have to answer questions or make a presentation.

Set your own drink limit and stick to it. And don’t forget to eat something.

I recommend showing up within the first twenty minutes of the event’s start time, because the best networking will happen at the beginning of the event before people pair up and group off. Once you arrive, put your cell phone away. You may feel insecure and want to reach for it, but it will instantly make you look unapproachable.

Never tell someone that you “forgot” their name or can’t “remember” their name. It’s a bit insulting. Instead, ask them to “remind” you of their name if you

identify who you want to talk to by scanning the room upon your arrival or checking ahead of time if there is a registration of people who will be attending the event. Take a deep breath and walk up and introduce yourself. Don’t panic about coming up with something clever to say. Instead, simply start with “Hi, I’d like to introduce myself. My name is John Smith, and I work at (company name).”

If you’re nervous about approaching a group or walking up to someone, place yourself at or near the bar.

If there is a group of people and you want to speak with someone in the group, look to see if it’s an open or closed circle.

avoid starting a conversation with “So, what do you do?” It can come across as opportunistic, as if you will only talk to the person if you think you can get something out of the conversation. Start on a friendlier note before inquiring about what the person does for work.

perfect strategy to help you keep the conversation going to ensure that you avoid an awkward silence and an uncomfortable end: The Meier Method W-W-H-C, which stands for What, Why, How, Compliment.

When meeting new people, find something you have in common with them, make a light joke, and show genuine interest in what they are talking about. Instead of focusing on business topics such as what the person does or what their business goals and plans are, you can ask a mixture of open and closed conversation starters: • How or why they come to the event? • How did they hear about the event? • These (insert food items) are delicious. Have you tried them? • This venue is beautiful. Have you been here before? • Did you see the (team name) game last night? • How do you know (name of someone you think you both know)?

A simple trick to come across as more likable when talking to people is looking into their left eye. Looking into someone’s left eye causes you to break posture as you lean in naturally.

A simple trick to come across as more likable when talking to people is looking into their left eye. Looking into someone’s left eye causes you to break posture as you lean in naturally. It shows that you’re engaged in the conversation and listening to what the other person is saying. If you want to come across as more assertive, look into the person’s right eye. Looking into someone’s right eye causes you to square your shoulders, giving you the power posture discussed on page 121 with your chin parallel to the floor. This more formal stance gives nonverbal cues that you mean business.

Interviewing is all about confidence.

“Dress for the job you want, not the one you have.”

your résumé can grow to a second page, but focus on the highlights of the positions you’ve had—main responsibilities and accomplishments—as well as what would be relevant to this hiring manager and company.

List all relevant experience. If you’re applying for a sales position at a technology company and you’re several years post college, remove your pre-college job experience. Focus on past internships, past positions, and your current position. As your career advances you can remove the earliest positions such as internships

Remember to be polite to everyone you meet at the company from the receptionist to the hiring manager.

Remember to be polite to everyone you meet at the company from the receptionist to the hiring manager. 8. Practice positive body language. Have good posture and avoid crossing your arms when speaking with people because it gives the impression that you don’t want to be there. 9. Don’t speak negatively about previous employers and colleagues.

7. Remember to be polite to everyone you meet at the company from the receptionist to the hiring manager. 8. Practice positive body language. Have good posture and avoid crossing your arms when speaking with people because it gives the impression that you don’t want to be there. 9. Don’t speak negatively about previous employers and colleagues.

A negotiation is not something to fear. It’s a conversation, not a confrontation. Before you go into a negotiation for a salary at a new job, promotion, or raise, think about what you want to say and practice saying it so that your message is clear and understood.