Corporate Business Etiquette

ETIQUETTEFor Business & Social Occasions

What is etiquette?

Etiquette has to do with good manners.

It is not so much our own good manners, but making other people feel comfortable by the way we behave.

“The conduct or procedure required by good breeding or authority to be observed in social or business life”.

Personal Effectiveness Series

Meeting & greeting

Stand up and greet

When someone comes to visit at the office, stand and come out from behind your desk unless the visitor is a co-worker or someone who comes into your office frequently in the course of the day.

Stand up and greet

The frequency consideration comes into play even when a senior executive visits the office of a junior executive.

If it's a common occurrence, there's no need to get up; however, you should certainly stop what you're doing and give your full attention to the senior executive whenever you're in his or her presence.

Stand up and greet

Everyone should stand when being introduced.

At one time women remained seated when new people arrived on the scene, but not nowadays. However, when newcomers arrive at a very large function, they are greeted only by those nearest them.

Stand up and greet

If it is impossible for you to rise—if perhaps you are wedged behind the table—at least lean forward or rise slightly so as not to appear distant.

Handshake

A handshake leaves a very definite and often lasting impression.

In the business world a handshake is the only truly appropriate physical contact for both men and women.

Handshake

When you are at an office or social party, keep your drink in your left hand to avoid giving someone a wet, cold handshake.

Don't rock or sway. Handshaking is not a tango.

Fingers together thumb up

Keep your fingers together and your thumb up.

Fingers together, thumb up

The proper way!

Slide the web of your hand all the way to the web of the other person's hand.

Otherwise, he or she ends up shaking hands with your fingers. Also, shaking web to web effectively prevents the other person, no matter how strong, from crunching your knuckles.

Firm but not crushing

A weak, limp handshake

The proper hand shake

Involves eye contact

Is firm but painless Lasts about three

seconds Takes only two or

three pumps

The proper hand shake

Starts and stops crisply

Doesn't continue through the entire introduction

Shake hands when…

Someone offers his/her hand to you

First meeting someone

Greeting guests Greeting your

host/hostess Renewing an

acquaintance Saying goodbye

Smiling

The smile is the near-universal gesture of friendliness, and in America its meaning is usually clear.

The person smiling is happy, amused, and/or sending out a friendly signal. In other cultures the smile may be sending other signals. In some Latin cultures, for example, the smile may be used to say “Excuse me” or “Please.”

Smiling

If a person from another culture does not return your greeting smile, it doesn't indicate hostility or bad manners.

In some Asian cultures, smiling is a gesture to be reserved for informal occasions, and smiling while being formally introduced would be considered disrespectful.

Eye Contact

In many cultures, avoiding eye contact is a sign of respect, but such behavior can lead to misunderstandings. For example, some Korean shopkeepers have been accused of disrespecting their non-Korean customers because the shopkeepers avoided making eye contact. The same sort of misunderstanding has occurred between American teachers and Asian students who do not look at the teacher while he or she is speaking.


Business Etiquette

Business Etiquette

Q. What is the proper time to arrive for an appointment?

A. Always arrive on time for an appointment.---Never arrive late. ---Arrive no more than five minutes early.

Q. Can I exchange business cards while dining?

A. Business cards should never be exchanged while dining. This is true at even the most informal dining situations.

Business Etiquette

Q. Is it impolite to ask an executive of a company for payment of outstanding invoices?

A. For services rendered, it is not considered impolite to request payment. However, you should first contact your billing representative before approaching the executives or principals of the company.

Business Etiquette

Q. How can I get more privacy in my cubicle without being rude to my co-workers?

A. If you are a cubicle worker, who is constantly "challenged" by a lack of privacy at your workplace, propose to management that a 'Cubicle Workers Code of Ethics' be established for workers of a common area.

Business Etiquette

Q. How much perfume/cologne is acceptable to wear at work?

A. Perfume, cologne or aftershave should be applied sparingly, evoking a subtle scent. Strong fragrances, as well as, inexpensive or "cheap" fragrances are often offensive to business associates and therefore inappropriate in a professional venue.


Social Graces

Social Graces

Q. How should I critic a teammate's performance?

A. Avoid making harsh, critical comments regarding your or another person's (partner, teammate or member of opposing team) playing ability.

Q. We are invited to a dinner party. Should we take a gift to the host?

A. Yes. An appropriate hostess gift could be a bottle of wine, flowers or a small item for the home, such as a candle.

Social Graces

Q. How should I receive a compliment? A. Learn to receive compliment graciously.

When someone says something positive about you, don't deny or refute it. Instead, thank them for the compliment and enjoy their praise.

Q. Should children ask permission before playing on a neighbour's yard?

A. Children should first ask permission before walking or playing on a neighbours yard or property.

Social Graces

Q. What is the correct way to sneeze or cough in public?

A. If you sense a sneeze or cough coming on, cover your nose and mouth with your left hand (if you are right-handed) thus leaving your right hand clean for shaking hands, opening doors, etc. (Note: When you have a cold/flu you should also wash your hands often.)

Social Graces

Q. Is it appropriate for someone to ask you to take off your shoes when entering their home?

A. Yes, when a guest in someone else’s home, it is appropriate to abide by their rules and requests. Taking off shoes in someone’s home is also a traditional custom in some countries such as Japan.

Social Graces

Q. Who gets on/off an elevator first, men or women?

A. The person who reaches the elevator first or is closest to the door, regardless of gender, enters or exits an elevator first.


Table manners

The place setting

Table Manners

Q. Is it considered rude to take a sip of your drink while still chewing?

A. It is considered good manners to wait until you have finished chewing and have swallowed your food before taking a sip of your beverage.

Q. What is the correct position for a coffee cup in a formal place setting?

A. The coffee cup and saucer is placed to the right of the place setting, to the right of the furthest utensil. Since most people are right-handed, the handle should face to the right.

Table Manners

Q. After the completion of a formal dinner, where do you place your utensils?

A. Place the knife and fork parallel to one another across the plate with the knife blade facing inward toward the plate. Position the knife and fork in the position of ten o’clock to four o’clock.

Table Manners

Q. How should I fold a large napkin before placing it in my lap?

A. Large dinner napkins should be folded in half after opening and before placing on one's lap.

Q. Is it proper for a woman to apply lipstick at the table after a meal?

A. It is appropriate for a woman to excuse herself and apply lipstick in a private area such as a restroom.

Table Manners

Q. When should the host/hostess of a dinner party be served?

A. The host hostess of a dinner party should be the last one served. If the meal is getting cold, the host/hostess may state something to the effect, "Please begin while the food is still warm".

Table Manners

Q. At a formal dinner party, how do I properly serve and remove the dishes and glasses?

A. When entertaining formally, dishes are presented or served at guest's left and removed from the right side. Glasses are filled from the right.

Table Manners

Q. When dining at a fine restaurant should you eat different types of food on your plate individually or eat all the food groups together?

A. It is appropriate to eat all items together as the different foods complement one another.

Q. What direction should food be passed at the table?

A. Food should be passed to the right, or counter-clockwise.

Table Manners

Q. When eating meat, should you cut one piece, put your knife down, then eat the piece, or should you cut all of your meat up first, and then eat the meat?

A. When eating meat, always cut and eat one small piece at a time. If you are eating American style, you may put your knife down, switch your fork to your other hand and eat your bite. If you are eating Continental style, you may cut the piece of meat and eat it without putting setting your knife on your plate. Continental Dining Style is becoming more prevalent today and is considered the preferred method of eating.

Table Manners

Q. Is it wrong to stand when a lady excuses herself from the table? What is the proper etiquette when the woman excuses herself and returns?

A. In a social setting, it is always appropriate for a male to stand when a female is taking her leave. However, in a business setting, it is not always necessary for a male to rise whenever his female coworker(s) leave the table.

Table Manners

Q. Should you dismiss yourself from the table if you need to sneeze or blow your nose?

A. Yes, excuse yourself from the table, and at no time should you use your napkin as a handkerchief.

Q. When dining out, is it okay to share your food with the others at the table for tasting purposes?

A. Yes, it is appropriate to share when others at the table are also willing to share. However, always request additional small plates and clean utensils for dividing the shared food.

Table Manners

Q. Where do I place my napkin when briefly excusing myself during the meal?

A. Place your napkin on the chair when excusing yourself during the meal as it is not appropriate to place a soiled napkin on the table while people are still eating. At the completion of a meal, carefully place the napkin at the left of your place setting or if the plates have been cleared, place the napkin in the center without actually refolding to original state.

Table Manners

Q. Who pays the bill when dining out? A. When entertaining a guest, such as when

out for dinner or cocktails, the person who extended the invitation (regardless of gender) is responsible for paying the bill.

Q. When do I use the salad fork? A. When served a salad as the main entrée,

use your dinner fork or entrée fork. Also, if your salad is served as a side dish on your main entrée plate, use your dinner fork. Otherwise, use your salad fork for your salad!

Table Manners

Q. What is the correct way to butter bread or a roll?

A. When served bread or a roll on a bread/butter plate; break the bread with your fingers into pieces small enough for one or two bites; butter a pulled apart piece and then eat it. Do not butter the entire roll or piece of bread at one time.

Table Manners

Q. Which side of the guest should I pour wine from at the dinner table?

A. Pour wine and all beverages from the right, while standing behind and to the right of the guest.

Q. What is the correct way to serve yourself a portion of brie cheese? Do you just cut a piece from the soft part or try to cut off a portion including the hard skin?

A. Serve yourself an entire piece of cheese neatly and then you may cut away the crust on your own plate.

Table Manners

Q. When should charger plates be removed from the dinner table?

A. The charger plates should be on the table when the guests are seated. The soup, fish or salad course are served on top of the charger. It is customary for the charger plate to be removed prior to the serving of the entree or dinner course. Some people however, prefer to leave the charger plate on the table during the entree because they enjoy the appearance of the charger. Regardless of if you remove the charge after the soup, fish, salad or entree, the charger plate should always be removed before the dessert course.

Table Manners

Q. When you have some food in your mouth that you don’t want to swallow, what should you do?

A. Move the food forward with your tongue onto the fork and place it back on the side of your plate.

Q. Where do I place the finger bowl after cleansing my fingers?

A. When using a finger bowl, after cleansing your fingers, place the finger bowl and the doily on the upper left side of the place setting; this clears the dessert plate for the dessert.

Table Manners

Q. Where are the dessert utensils placed in a formal table setting?

A. When setting the table, the dining utensils (or flatware) used for eating dessert should be placed using one of the following options:

1) At the top of the place setting with the fork (handle pointing left) placed above the plate and the spoon (handle pointing right) placed above the fork.

2) The dessert spoon placed to the immediate right of the plate.

3) The dessert fork and spoon placed on the dessert plate along with the finger bowl and presented immediately before the dessert.

Table Manners

Q. What do you do when the salad has big pieces of lettuce? Can you cut them with your knife?

A. Years ago, when knife blades were still made of silver, this was true, as the vinegar harmed the blades. However, today, most knife blades are stainless steel and therefore, may be used to cut lettuce into smaller bites.

Table Manners

Q. Should a child stand or sit while the adults are being seated at the dining table?

A. When at a dining table, a child should stand behind his/her chair until all the adults have been seated.

Q. Where should I put my napkin at the completion of the meal?

A. At the completion of a meal, carefully place the napkin at the left of your place setting or if the plates have been cleared, place the napkin in the center without actually refolding to original state.

Table Manners

Q. In a family setting, which direction should food be passed for serving?

A. Food is passed to the right, or counter-clockwise.

Q. What should you do if you spill a beverage on yourself while dining?

A. Clean up the spill at the table or excuse yourself to the restroom if needed. Apologize to anyone your slight mishap may have inconvenienced.

Table Manners

Q. When a fellow diner asks to "please pass the salt,” is it standard etiquette to pass both the salt and the pepper?

A. We recommend first passing the salt and then inquiring if the other guest would also like the pepper.