In my last article called "Business Etiquette Part 1 - Rules of Professionalism," I have talked about the fundamental rules which determine the level of mannerism at work. These pointers should be the minimum indicators of your level of professionalism. These could also be considered as your internal values which you carry at all times.
Today, I would like to explore the subject of business etiquette further. I will talk about meetings and introductions. I will also explain what does it mean to work effectively for your boss and being a part of a team. Hope you enjoy it!
Meetings, Greetings and Introductions
Although we are currently in a situation when human interactions are limited to a minimum, we need to remind ourselves a few general rules when meeting with people.
You also greet others by looking them in the eye
At the start, you always have an opportunity to introduce people to others and you should certainly do so. Know how to introduce them: what are their names, titles and the organisation they work for or the department they work in. It is also a bit of good advice, to find out one good thing about the person you are introducing and tell others about it. It shows good etiquette and matters as well as you give others something to talk about.
When you are introduced, respond gracefully to introductions. If for any chance your name was misspelt or pronounced incorrectly, don't be too quick to point that out. You want to correct them, but be gracious in your correction.
You can also cover a neglected introduction as well. That is also being part of a team. However, you should do it in the way, that it protects the integrity of those who made the mistake. There is nothing graceful about showing everyone that someone else made an error and you are better than them. This behaviour shows a lack of good manners and it is also easily seen by others.
If you are the one making the mistake, simply apologise.
Be aware of your body language
When meeting or greeting others you should be aware of your body language. Ensure that you are looking at their eyes. Take time to be aware of having a welcoming attitude. Don't stand with your hands crossed and certainly, do not distract yourself with other things.
Give your full body presence to the individual you are meeting and greeting
Be open, keep eye contact, engage in dialogue and most importantly, always, always, always smile! This is such a wonderful thing to see somebody smile at you.
Support your manager
Next to completing your tasks, we also need to think about what are the little things your manager expects from you. Taking the time to anticipate your manager's needs and understanding what he or she wants from you. Try to find out those little things to anticipate what can help your boss. Simple things can go a long way.
You also want to try to make your manager look good. When you do a great job you make your boss look great!
Keep your boss informed
This is another important aspect of working effectively. You will be a catalyst for a tremendous amount of information from one department to another. However, the most important person to know this information is your boss. So, when information comes in, filter the information and ensure that you have the most important points. Understand, what information your manager needs from you, how much information and how he or she likes to receive it.
Be supportive of your teammates
In addition to your boss, being an effective part of a team also shows professionalism. Your team will rely on you to be just that.
Align priorities with your boss, find out what he or she needs from you and then ensure you are being supportive of your teammate
When all of your teammates aligning their priorities together based on what their manager needs, you are effectively working together to accomplish goals.
Being supportive of your teammates may mean having to drop things you thought were important to your team.
You should always focus on the group, rather than on yourself. That is part of being an effective member of your team. When you do this, your team will flourish. When you can support them and they know they can rely on you.
Summary
Thank you for taking the time to read my article. I hope that you can relate to the information and able to critically analyse and see the benefits of good manners at work. Being professional means knowing how to meet new people, support your boss and work with others. I look forward to hearing your comments or answer any questions you may have.
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