In todays busy working week, I am begining to wonder if we have forgotten some of the basic good practice and good manners we were taught as examples of good business etiquette?
Perhaps I am becoming one of the “grumpy old women” portrayed on the BBC TV series, but it never ceases to amaze me that we seem to negatively impact our personal reputation and personal brand through forgetting to pay attention to our own business etiquette.
Here are three things I think are becoming increasingly common and yes if this were the “grumpy old women” TV show I’d be ranting:
- Not offering refreshments - as a matter of good business manners, if you are meeting someone in your office, expecially a new client or business contact, please do not forget the pleasantry of offering your visitor or potential client a drink. It breaks the ice and shows you are attentive to their needs.
- Leaving on your mobile phone in meetings - yes I know we are have high pressured jobs and have to be “on call” with our phones on, but please if you are in a business meeting, turn off your mobile phone. If you do need to take a call, tell the other people you are meeting with that you are waiting for an important call and is that OK if you are interrupted.
- Not saying thank you - whether it is an email reply you get from someone in response to a question you raised, or perhaps someone has sent you an email with a useful contact or article, please, please, please remember to take 30 seconds to send your colleague an email to say thank you. Yes I know we receive a lot of email, but it really is business etiquette 101 to say thank you and helps you nurture your network.
And if you are a grumpy old woman (or man) and want to meet other grumpy old women in Ireland, you can book to see the “Grumpy Old Women Live Show” which is taking place on the 1 November at the Helix in Dublin. I wonder if they are looking for any understudy’s?
So what are your hot spots in terms of business etiquette?
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