Proper Business Etiquette Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter which fork you use. ~Emily Post

Overview Good manners and proper behavior are essential for professional growth. Companies not only want strong academic credentials and solid leadership skills, they're also insisting on excellent interpersonal skills and etiquette is considered a component of those skills. EmployReward Solutions 2010

What is Business Etiquette? Business Etiquette is all about everything you learned in kindergarten… manners. Employers are looking for candidates with the best skills for the job and the best interpersonal skills for the workplace. With the current state of the job market and economy employers can afford to be selective. Using good manners will help to make a good impression with your boss and co-workers. EmployReward Solutions 2010

What are the different forms of Business Etiquette? Conversation Etiquette Greeting Etiquette Dress Etiquette E-mail Etiquette Telephone Etiquette Time Management Attitude EmployReward Solutions 2010

Conversation Etiquette Make and maintain eye contact Listen and observe carefully before speaking Think about what you’re going to say so that you can keep it short and brief Apologize if you must interrupt an ongoing conversation EmployReward Solutions 2010

Greeting Etiquette Make eye contact Stand up when meeting someone for the first time Offer a firm handshake When making introductions, introduce the lesser accomplished person to the more accomplished person EmployReward Solutions 2010

Dress Etiquette Dress for success Keep clothing neat and conservative (loose fitting, long skirts and high collars) Use perfume and cologne sparingly No public grooming ( hair brushing, flossing, clipping nails) Practice personal hygiene daily EmployReward Solutions 2010

E-mail Etiquette Be brief and to the point Proofread and double check spelling and grammar Make sure the tone of the email is respectful, friendly and approachable. Say “please” and “thank you” Do not use text shorthand (i.e. u= you; 2 = to, too) Avoid using all caps (yelling) and all lower case (mumbling) Begin and end your email as you would a letter (dear, sincerely yours) Ask permission before sending attachments EmployReward Solutions 2010

Telephone/Cell Phone Etiquette Turn cell phones off or on vibrate Keep personal calls to a minimum Do not talk with food in your mouth or use foul language Don’t use cell phones in restrooms or bring them to meetings Try not to talk too loudly or use speakerphones Don’t leave your party on an extended hold EmployReward Solutions 2010

Time Management Be on time allow for traffic, accidents and getting lost Prioritize your tasks and plan your day Say no to nonessential tasks Complete work on time EmployReward Solutions 2010

Attitude Be friendly, relaxed, happy and positive Be eager to shoulder responsibility Demonstrate what you can do to help Carry your weight Show patience and never overreact Be sincere EmployReward Solutions 2010

Break-time Etiquette Don’t talk with your mouth full Avoid smelly and messy foods Use silverware Avoid eating noises (slurping, gulping) Be considerate of others when refrigerator space is shared EmployReward Solutions 2010

Best Practices Limit internet use to work related topics Stay awake at your desk and during meetings Don’t contribute to office gossip Avoid discussions about religion, politics, your sex life, family problems, career aspirations and health problems Don’t borrow from or lend money to co-workers Don’t read emails and faxes on someone else's desk Maintain a professional list and friends list on social networking sites like Facebook Review and adhere to your companies solicitation policy. EmployReward Solutions 2010

Conclusion First impressions are key in getting you noticed and advancing your career within any organization. Treat everyone with respect and courtesy. Don’t be afraid to practice what you’ve learned here when dealing with family and friends. As your etiquette skills improve, you will be able to spot bad manners during your daily interactions. Don’t pick up any bad habits but strive to make good business etiquette a natural part of your daily routines. Good Luck! EmployReward Solutions 2010

Next Steps If you haven’t chosen a career path yet, visit our tutorial “Choosing a Career”. Then begin working on your resume and cover letter using “Resume Essentials” and “Cover Letters”. EmployReward Solutions 2010

Online Quizzes Email Etiquette Quiz http://www.jobstriker.com/quizzes/etiquette-quizzes/email-etiquette-quiz.html Telephone Etiquette Quiz http://www.jobstriker.com/quizzes/etiquette-quizzes/office-phone-etiquette-quiz.html Workplace Etiquette Quiz http://adminsecret.monster.com/videos/quizzes/42 EmployReward Solutions 2010

Resources and References Your First Job Making a Good Impression By Dawn Rosenberg McKay http://careerplanning.about.com/cs/firstjob/a/first_job.htm Job Etiquette By Ajanta Bhattacharyya http://www.buzzle.com/articles/job-etiquette.html Etiquette tips : office etiquette by Deborah Ng http://www.essortment.com/career/officeetiquette_sfkm.htm How to Deal With Personal Issues at Work By Dawn Rosenberg McKay http://careerplanning.about.com/od/personalissues/tp/personal_issues.htm Emily Post Business Etiquette http://www.emilypost.com/office-issues EmployReward Solutions 2010