UNDERSTANDING BASIC BUSINESS ETIQUETTES (2)

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Last time, we explored the concept of etiquette. Today, we're moving to the next part of this series...

I got an interesting question from a reader of the previous post on this series. "Is there really any difference between good manners and etiquette?"

Good question!

Well, there's slight difference between the two concepts. Good manners are simply rules for common actions of courtesy and politeness, whereas etiquette describes the use of proper customs in social and business life, and these may change over time.

The general manners you may be well acquainted with include:

Be considerate of others
Show respect
Use "excuse me"
Listen to people before making suggestions
Be patient
Offer assistance
Compliment good work
Learn, remember and use people's names
Be courteous, kind, polite, and fair

On the flip side, general etiquettes comprises of:

Workplace behaviour
Social dinning etiquettes
Telephone etiquettes
Personal relations

WORKPLACE BEHAVIOUR

In the workplace, manners get realized in a lot of different ways. You're expected to do the following:

Respect the company's culture in terms of conduct and dressing. Dress in a manner consistent with company
culture and make sure you keep a clean body and fresh breathe.
Respect rank and treat it appropriately.
Respect others' privacy and be courteous to them. Watch for their personal boundaries and don't venture in
their space.
Respect others' views and handle disagreements gracefully. People's religions, moral orientation, and lifestyles differ.
Handle job stress without imposing yourself on others. Stress is unavoidable. Deal with it on your own.
Extend courteousness to all members of the company. Cleaners are just as important as the CEO!
Stand up straight and sit properly.
Be courteous when using shared company equipment.
Limit personal calls while in the office.
Say hello or good morning to those who you encounter in the morning and goodnight to those you encounter on the way home.