Business Etiquette Every Professional Should Know

Proper etiquette is a lesson we carry throughout our lives. It's treating others the way we would want to be treated. It's literally a code that governs social behavior. This code is essential to business functions and our professional success. Below are the etiquette tips every office professional should know.

Greetings

Never underestimate the power of the handshake. Believe it or not, your approach and grasp say a lot about who you are. Be sure to practice a firm grip without hurting the recipient to convey confidence. A limp grip indicates apathy and a lack of interest. This goes for both men and women however; I should note that some professionals may be from the old school of etiquette where a man will wait for a female to initiate the handshake. A good rule of thumb for women in the workplace is to always initiate a handshake to be on the safe side. Below are a few other tips for professional greetings:

• Make eye contact when meeting someone for the first time.
• Always rise from a seated position when being introduced to someone.
• Always address someone by their title and last name unless otherwise instructed.

Electronic Etiquette

Your email, cell phone and conference calls are not immune to etiquette. I know it's easier said than done, but these are merely suggestions of the correct way to conduct yourself at work.

• Email - should only be used for work related materials.
• Cell phones - should only be used for emergencies. Do not take personal calls from friends or family who want to chat. This is a distraction to you and others in your office. While you're in a business meeting, be sure to always turn your phone off. For more information on cell phone etiquette, read our article "Proper Cell Phone Etiquette."
• Conference calls - are trickier. It's important to refrain from distractions and to be on time to a conference call. Handling it much like a face-to-face meeting is always a good idea. There are several tips to being considerate during these calls, so check out this 2 part webinar, "Meet Me in Cyberspace - the 411 on Virtual Meetings, Part 1 and Part 2".

Dining

You'll undoubtedly have to have dinner, drinks or some type of dining experience with clients and co-workers. This report states that roughly 80% of second interviews involve a business meal. While not speaking with your mouth full and placing your napkin in your lap are basic manners your mom likely taught you, they aren't enough. Here are some dining tips to keep it professional:

• Always arrive on time or early.
• Always wait to be seated until someone directs you where to sit.
• Place your napkin in your lap before eating or drinking anything.
• Think about what you order. You'll have to speak throughout the meal and you don't want to spit your meal all over everyone at the table.
• Wait to eat until everyone has been served.
• Chew with your mouth closed and do not talk while chewing.
• Place hands in your lap or at least be sure to keep your elbows off the table.
• Eat at the same pace as everyone else.
• Push your chair in when leaving the table.
• Try to remember not to touch your face.

You may have to order wine at one of these dinners and believe it or not, wine has its own rules of etiquette. You should always ask your client or your boss for their recommendation on which wine to choose. You should also always agree with whatever they decide. Once the wine has been ordered it's important to know the wine ritual. Even if you don't know a thing about wine, using the simple 3 step process to approving a bottle is essential:

• Presentation - the waiter/waitress will show you the bottle you chose. Simply check it quickly to ensure it is indeed the wine you ordered and give the server a nod.
• Cork - the waiter or waitress will then open the bottle and hand you the cork. Take the cork and sniff it quickly and place it on the table. This process is solely to ensure the bottle has been packaged correctly. If it hasn't, you'll notice a distinct smell reminiscent of dirty socks. This is a rare occasion.
• Sip - your server will then pour a little of the wine into a glass and present that to you. Simply take a small sip to make sure it tastes like wine and not dirty socks, vinegar, or wet cardboard and give the waiter/waitress a nod of approval. It's also perfectly acceptable to ask your server to pour your client or boss a sip to test as well.

While some rules of professional etiquette are simple manners most of us are reared by, others aren't so obvious. Being on your best behavior and using these tried and true methods doesn't mean you have to pretend to be someone you're not. Fuse your personality with these rules of etiquette to truly impress. You'll land jobs, accounts and the respect of peers, subordinates, clients and superiors alike.