Business etiquette refers to the manners and rules required and enforced in a professional environment. Though each company might have unique etiquette expectations, there are several common components that many organizations share. Having clear expectations of conduct contributes to a professional, productive, communicative and respectful workplace for both employees and management.In this article, we discuss business etiquette and offer 26 tips to help you improve your own business etiquette.

What is business etiquette?

Business etiquette is a term for the behavior guidelines that apply to the workplace. This means acting professionally when communicating with coworkers, managers and clients. Having good business etiquette can increase your chances of success in the workplace.Business etiquette could include the following elements:

• Communication, including in person, over the phone and via email
• Dress and appearance
• Respect
• Timeliness
• Relationships with others

26 business etiquette tips

There are many professional situations in which you might practice good business etiquette. Here are some categories of professional environments and tips for each of them:

Networking etiquette

Networking refers to making connections within the community or your industry. These connections can be invaluable for individuals seeking jobs, as they can help them communicate with potential employers. The people in your network can refer you to resources you could use to excel in your role, such as suggesting sales leads.Here are four basic networking etiquette tips:

1. Help people in your network. To build a solid network, consider what you can do for other people and what they can do for you. You might consider helping your network when they need it, and they may be more likely to offer help for you.
2. Make an elevator pitch. Consider preparing an elevator pitch, or a summary of what you do, your experience and your goals. Effective elevator pitches are short enough that you can share them with someone during an elevator ride.
3. Include everyone in conversations. When engaged in a group conversation, consider including everyone. Try to ensure each person has an opportunity to speak and share their experiences.
4. Follow up quickly. You can follow up with the people you meet within two days. Try to offer them something of value instead of asking for a favor or introduction, such as a link to an interesting article they might like to read.

Interview etiquette

Understanding etiquette guidelines during an interview can help you make a positive impression. Here are seven etiquette tips to remember for an interview:

1. Be prepared by researching the company and the interviewer if possible.
2. Turn off your cell phone or don’t bring it to the interview.
3. Greet your interviewer with a smile and a firm handshake.
4. Make eye contact, if possible and appropriate, with the interviewer, speak clearly and sit up straight.
5. Take notes and ask questions if you do not understand something.
6. Speak positively about your previous employer and anyone who works there.
7. Let the interviewer ask about the salary first.

Post-interview etiquette

Following up with interviewers is one more way to stand out from your competition and make a good impression. Depending on the situation, you may follow up with an email or a handwritten, mailed note. A handwritten note is more formal, but the email approach has the benefit of being much faster. Try to send any follow-up communication within 24 hours of the interview.Here are five tips you can follow when creating a thank you note:

1. Be brief, conversational and professional.
2. Reiterate your interest in the position and why you’re a perfect fit.
3. Thank the interviewer for their time.
4. Provide more details about yourself in your thank you note if you forgot to give the interviewer relevant information about yourself and your abilities during the interview.
5. Send a thank you note to the hiring manager even if you didn’t get the job. In your message, thank them for their time and express interest in any future roles that match your skills and abilities.

Introduction etiquette

It’s polite to introduce people to one another when they meet for the first time. Here are four tips on introducing people politely:

1. Stand up if you’re sitting down.
2. If you’re giving the introduction, say, “I’d like to introduce,” “this is” or a similar phrase, followed by their name.
3. Offer some information about each person. This can help you encourage a conversation between the two of them, so try to find a topic of common interest.
4. Shake hands. Consider using a firm grip and refraining from extending the handshake past two seconds.

Workplace etiquette

You can practice good etiquette every day in the workplace. Here are six tips for maintaining good workplace etiquette:

1. Dress to your workplace’s standards. For example, you may need to wear casual, business casual or professional apparel.
2. Arrive on time to work or meetings every day. This helps show your positive attitude toward your job and is considerate to anyone who may be waiting for you.
3. Learn names as quickly as you can. This communicates respect and assures them you value your acquaintance with them.
4. Try to return phone calls within 24 hours, even if you do not have an immediate answer. Let the caller know that you’ll follow up as soon as you have an answer.
5. Keep your work area clean and tidy, especially if it’s in a central, visible space or faces the public.
6. Be considerate when using break room facilities, such as microwaves and refrigerators.

How to improve your business etiquette

There are several steps you can take to improve your business etiquette:

1. Maintain professionalism

While you’re working, staying professional is important as you represent your team and organization. Make sure your appearance is neat and that your apparel fits the situation. When speaking with coworkers, it’s acceptable to use a conversational tone and a formal tone when working with clients. Consider making eye contact during conversations and smile when appropriate.

2. Learn to respect others

Learning to respect others includes listening to others’ opinions and actions. During meetings, consider ideas from everyone, even if they’re different from yours. Respect can also involve being honest with your colleagues and customers about your abilities, timelines and offerings.

3. Develop a skill set

There are certain skills you can practice to improve your etiquette:

• Communication: When conversing with others and if possible, consider speaking slowly and clearly so others can understand you, using non-technical terms when speaking with those outside of your industry. This skill can also involve active listening to others during a conversation by asking questions and showing your engagement.
• Emotional intelligence: This skill refers to the ability to understand the emotions of others. To develop emotional intelligence skills, observe the actions and words of others to see how they react to different situations.
• Time management: A large portion of etiquette is arriving on time or meeting deadlines. You may need to arrive early or on time for a work shift or submit your part of a project for coworkers to complete the next step.

If you’re unsure how you present yourself to others, ask for constructive feedback from your colleagues or manager. Gathering an outside perspective of your workplace etiquette can help you realize actions you may not have noticed before. Try to incorporate their notes into your daily routine to improve your etiquette. If they offer you positive feedback, continue improving in that area. You can also review your employee handbook to see company-specific etiquette guidelines you might follow.