Sarah Archer 3m 711 #businessetiquette
The views of this article are the perspective of the author and may not be reflective of Confessions of the Professions.
Succeed With Proper Business Etiquette
You aced the interview, landed your dream job, and are now ready to begin your career in your chosen field. Before you walk into your new office, it’s a good idea to read up on proper business etiquette. To help prevent you from committing any faux pas in your new job, here are some of the guidelines for business etiquette. After reading, find out more about professional etiquette and take the business etiquette quiz at the bottom of this page.
Nailing your First Day
Start off strong on your first day by arriving about 15 minutes early. This will show your new boss that you’re excited to begin working. As you meet your coworkers, be amiable and friendly, but don’t get too personal on the first day. If you forget someone’s name, it’s okay to politely ask them again – no one expects you to remember everything just yet.
As the day goes on, take notes whenever you’re briefed on a new task or office policy, and feel free to ask questions about what you’re learning. At the end of the day, don’t start packing up just because it’s five o’clock. Keep an eye on when your coworkers leave, and follow their lead. Before you go, finish up any projects you were assigned – this will show your initiative and end your first day on a high note.
Scheduling your First Meeting
When it comes time to schedule your first meeting, there are a few etiquette rules to keep in mind. When you first announce the meeting to your coworkers, offer a wide time window that includes a few different times on different days. If you have a shared office calendar, glance through it to see when your coworkers already have scheduled events or meetings. Once you’ve found a few times that will work for everyone, create a detailed meeting invitation stating what the meeting is about and where it will be taking place.
On the day of the meeting, send out a brief agenda at least two hours before the meeting. This will help prepare your colleagues for what you’ll be discussing and will allow them time to think of questions. To ensure that your meeting starts on time, try to get to the conference room about ten minutes beforehand to set up your presentation and print out any documents that you need.
Hosting Business Lunches and Dinners
Hosting a business lunch or dinner is a great way to connect with clients face-to-face and to learn more about what they are looking for from your company. When you call your client to offer the invitation, see if they have any restaurants in mind. If they don’t, feel free to pick the location, but keep your client’s preferences and diet in mind – you don’t want to accidentally take a vegetarian to a steakhouse.
On the day of the meeting, arrive early and stake out a table that fits the occasion. If you’re celebrating closing a deal, go for a busy table in the middle of the restaurant. But if you’re having a more serious conversation, aim for a quiet table in the corner.
When your client arrives, stand and shake their hand firmly. Once the waiter comes over, quickly order, and avoid getting messy foods like spaghetti or pizza. It’s also a good idea to refrain from ordering alcohol, even if your client is drinking.
Most etiquette experts say that it’s best not to bring up work too early into the meal. Spend some time getting to know the client, and wait until you have your food to get down to business. At the end of the meal, be sure to take the bill. If your client tries to pay, thank them profusely, but insist on footing the bill. Then, shake their hand once more and thank them for their time before you both head your separate ways.
As you begin a new job, it’s important to brush up on proper business etiquette. No matter what field you work in, these etiquette guidelines will help you succeed in your new job.
Quiz link: https://www.tinyprints.com/ideas/business-etiquette-tips/
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