Top 6 Business Etiquette Faux Pas
21/10/2014

- Switch off your phone or put it on vibrate mode when entering into a meeting. This will give you less opportunities to be distracted.
- If you are expecting an important call, inform the concerned person(s) beforehand, excuse yourself and find a private place to take the call.
- Respect others and value their time.
- Only talk about how good your product or service is and how it is better than others.
- Never enter into a conversation where you are expected to criticize or degrade others.
- Remember, communication is a two-way process. It should be a mutually beneficial exchange of ideas and stories.
- Fight the urge to share a similar story or let the other person know you know as much or more than them. Humble yourself. It can have a very positive impact on how the other party opens up and shares with you.
- Give your undivided attention to the talker. Do not be occupied by thinking about what you will say next.
- Always be punctual. Being late tells people that you don’t value their time and energy. It’s certainly not an impression that you would want to give to your supervisors or customers. Set reminders on your calendar or smartphone so that you can stay on schedule. At Cegos Asia Pacific, we offer a course on Time Management that lets executives/managers manage time strategically and focus on their key priorities.
- If you are running late, call ahead to apologise and offer to reschedule the meeting if the other party would prefer.
- Always assess your ability to complete a task before you promise to deliver. A lot rides on your words; your company’s and your reputation are at stake. You wouldn’t want to compromise it by failing to keep your commitments and be a source of embarrassment for all parties concerned.
- Learn to say ‘no’. Do not add things to your schedule just because people ask you to.
- Doing a few things efficiently is far more professional (not to mention productive), than doing too much and being ineffective.
- Maintain basic hygiene.
- Make sure your clothes are presentable and in accordance with your organisation’s dress culture.