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What is the proper business etiquette today? Offices are more relaxed, but that does not mean that good manners should be forgotten.

Proper office etiquette is an essential business tool. Manners reflect on your reputation with management, colleagues and customers. The basics of good etiquette translate to all settings and industries. Let’s begin with a refresher course on some universal basics.

What are the Basics?

Dress Code: What you wear to work can impact your impression on others and your overall productivity. The rule of thumb is to dress like others in the office. Even better, dress for the job you want. Be comfortable, but wearing workout attire to an office where your colleagues are wearing khakis and button-down shirts is not advised.

Keeping Personal Grooming Personal: Desks and offices are for performing work, not grooming stations. All grooming including makeup application and hair brushing should be done in the restroom. Manicures should be limited to home or the salon.

Eating Etiquette: Eating should occur in designated areas and not at your workspace. Spills can damage your computer system and/or paperwork. Eating at your desk not only decreases productivity, but is annoying to those around you. No one wants to hear you chewing on your food. The smell of food can be offensive to coworkers. If your organization has a break room or kitchen, be sure to clean up after yourself.

Noise Control: The open workplace concept requires voice and noise control. Speaking on the phone or to coworkers requires low volume and the use of headphones for the listening to music, if it is allowed. When entering your workplace, place your cell phone on vibrate when entering the building. If you need to take a personal call, keep it brief and go outside or into an empty conference room.

Use Your Sick Time: The absolute worst violation of proper business etiquette is going to work when ill. Staying home and resting will help the recovery process and prevent the spread of germs throughout the office. Your colleagues would rather pick up the slack than to become ill themselves.

Communication Etiquette: Communication etiquette should not be a lost art. Open space office settings lend itself to conversations across desks and shouting over cubicles is common. Emails have become less business-like and more casual. All of this has created an environment of poor office etiquette.

 

 

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