Etiquettes, an employee need to adhere to

In a professional organization there is always a right way and a not right way to do everything. Etiquette has, surprisingly been defined or almost every single part of one’s professional day.

From meeting and greeting people to talking on the telephone, from writing emails appropriately to speaking in meetings, from attending business events to the way one dresses in every situation, there are always certain standards to which one is expected to adhere. These norms and rules which are internationally accepted and one is expected to behave accordingly are called as ‘etiquette’.

Here are a few examples of the various areas that one is supposed to follow etiquette and a few examples of acceptable standards in each are:

Meeting & Greeting Etiquette: the tone and the body language with which individuals greet each other have certain standards and norms. One needs to be polite and deferent to the other individual while also greet with a smile and an open body language. The greeting can be either through an internationally accepted handshake or any greeting befitting the culture of the people meeting. Also, whilst introducing two people, the senior person is always given superiority and the junior person is introduced to the senior person first

Handshake Etiquette: the handshake during greeting has to be firm though not crushing, full palm, pumped 2 to 3 times from the elbow and then released even if the conversation is continuing further

Telephone Etiquette: the norms of telephone are usually one of courtesy towards the other person. It includes also the concept that body language and tone are very closely linked and so one needs to be in the appropriate body language if one needs to also convey the proper tone. From addressing the caller’s name to how to initiate a phone call to how to answer a phone call or leaving a voice message there are guidelines for making telephonic conversations most effective

Meeting Room Etiquette: guidelines also exist on how one needs to behave in meetings. From arriving on time, to following the agenda to allowing others to speak in their time, listening to others and forming proper action plan and taking minutes of the meetings, there are norms of unacceptable behaviors in team meetings that one needs to avoid

Business card Etiquette: interestingly enough, there is an international protocol about how one needs to give one’s business card to the other. It needs to be held by fingertips on both sides of the card with both hands and the person giving has to bow a bit and put their hands forward towards the other person with the writing on the card facing the other individual. Accordingly, even the person receiving the card has to mirror this person’s body language and take card similarly with both hands and take some time in going through it and asking one or two questions about the other person’s work, before putting the card into their card holder or pocket. There are also norms of where to give cards and where not, how to keep one’s cards in business networking event etc

Dress Etiquette: probably one of the most important etiquette expected out of employees is about dressing appropriately according to the situation. At work, they are expected to be in formals or at least in business casuals on Fridays as authorized by the organization. From the type of shirts and accessories for men to the type of jewellery for ladies, there are acceptable and non acceptable dress etiquette. Dressed in a way that is presentable to address a gathering at any time – to dress to address – is considered as one of the key parameters of business etiquette

Email Etiquette: probably one of the most critical and most frequently trained is the email etiquette. How does one write to a customer? What nuances should one take care of? How long should be an email? What should the subject line be for this email? How do I start the salutation to address the other person? How do I structure the email? A number of these questions are answered by email etiquette. Since an email goes from an organization’s account name, it represents the organization. Also once sent out it cannot be changed, hence the criticality is high. Courtesy, clarity and brevity are the three basic norms on which most of the email etiquette are built Apart from the above dining etiquette, cubicle etiquette, business etiquette are some other important etiquette one needs to learn and follow.

Of course, etiquette also take into account that from country to country, from industry to industry, from organization to organization, there are always variations in what is culturally acceptable and what is not.

Etiquette, though defined internationally, takes these nuances into account and can be customized from culture to culture. However, the international norms are for an overall awareness and action for acceptable behaviors at a global level.

Follow the etiquette... be a professional!

You have the power!

Th author is an International Trainer & Inspirational Speaker. She can be reached at http://www.revathionline.com