| "Back in the day" most children were taught to say | | | | To be successful in your workplace, follow the policies |
| "please" and "thank you." They were also taught to | | | | and the age-old guidance of "when in doubt, follow |
| ask permission before taking or doing something, open | | | | your supervisor's lead." They should know the rules |
| doors and pull out chairs at the dinner table for ladies, | | | | and have the experience to know what is appropriate |
| assist elderly people, wear suits to religious functions | | | | and not. When in doubt, ask them. |
| and to dinner with a date, send a thank you note | | | | The bottom line related to appearance is that |
| following a dinner or stay at a friends house, and to | | | | depending on your job, you should maintain a level of |
| generally conduct themselves in a more civil manner | | | | appropriate professionalism. Cleanliness, personal |
| according to customs and values of a bygone era. | | | | hygiene and grooming are keys to success in virtually |
| Much of that behavior typically carried over into the | | | | any environment. Dress in a manner that you do not |
| workplace. | | | | offend anyone with whom you come into contact and |
| Things have changed a bit over the years. Many | | | | strive to leave a positive impression. Clothing, make-up, |
| children do not have common civilities drilled into them | | | | jewelry and other accessories that may be |
| when they are young. They address older people and | | | | appropriate for going to the club or partying the night |
| customers by their first name without permission, | | | | before likely do not belong in a workplace setting. |
| ignore titles of address (e.g. Doctor, Mr. or Ms.) and | | | | Learn to separate the two environments and act |
| think nothing of taking the last item on a plate at a | | | | accordingly. |
| dinner or social function without first offering it a | | | | E-mail Etiquette |
| co-worker or other person present. | | | | E-mail has been around long enough to have its own |
| The result of the manners and etiquette deficiency is | | | | set of rules. Unfortunately, many people still violate |
| an individual who violates established rules of behavior | | | | those rules and end up in embarrassing situations or |
| for society while behaving in an unacceptable way | | | | looking unprofessional. Remember that there is no such |
| with customers, co-workers and anyone with whom | | | | thing as total deletion of a message with technology. |
| they come into contact on a daily basis. | | | | Also, keep in mind that once you hit the send button, |
| The following are some tips on more appropriate | | | | your message is out there for the world to see and |
| behavior and etiquette that may be useful in a variety | | | | you will never know exactly who reads what you |
| of settings. | | | | wrote. For that reason, act professionally and prudently |
| Introductions and Greetingo Address people, especially | | | | at all times. |
| those senior or older and customers, by their title and | | | | When you send something from your email address, |
| last name unless they give permission to use their first | | | | that address often gets forwarded along with your |
| name.o When introducing people in a social or business | | | | message to many other people. If there is something |
| setting, present the junior to the senior and mention the | | | | obscene, discriminatory, offensive or otherwise |
| senior person's name first. For example if you were | | | | unprofessional in the text, YOU are forever associated |
| introducing a new employee to your CEO during an | | | | with it. As a result, people may draw conclusions about |
| orientation meeting, you would say, "Ms. Renaldi, may I | | | | you, your beliefs, opinions, and views from the |
| present our new order processing manager, Susan | | | | message. If you use your organization email address, |
| Hathaway." At a company picnic where you are | | | | which many organizations now monitor and hold |
| introducing your spouse or significant other to your | | | | employees accountable for, you could also tarnish your |
| boss, you would mention the bosses name first (not | | | | company's reputation by something that you write. |
| because the boss is more important, but because it is | | | | To better use e-mail technology to your advantage, |
| a company function). Such an introduction would be, | | | | consider the following points:o Do not use over |
| "Mr. Frank Thompson, may I present Mary Joy Lucas, | | | | familiarity, especially when writing a customer, senior |
| my wife...". Note that "my wife" comes after the name | | | | person, or someone with whom you only have a |
| of the spouse, since as a person, she is more | | | | business relationship;o Use appropriate salutations such |
| important than her position as a wife.o When | | | | as, "Hello," "Good afternoon," and so on, along with the |
| introducing two people of equal status you may use | | | | recipient's title and last name (if known);o If possible, |
| age as the determining factor (the oldest introduced | | | | keep attachments to a minimum and small since they |
| first), or you can use gender (females introduced | | | | can slow down receipt of a message and tie up |
| first).o When introducing a very senior person to a | | | | someone's mail system;o Do not send unprofessional |
| group of people say the name of the senior person | | | | or unsolicited material (e.g. jokes, racy photos, obscene |
| and invite each person in the group to individually | | | | material, chain mail, or advertisements);o Avoid |
| introduce him- or herself to avoid errors in their names. | | | | emoticons (especially the animated types). These are |
| Capitalizing on Vocal Nuances | | | | the little characters drawn with various letters and |
| Because of the informal tone of so many activities | | | | punctuation key strokes (e.g. smile face characters);o |
| and events in today's business environment, many | | | | Respond promptly;o Avoid all capital letters since that |
| people have gotten lazy in their appearance, personal | | | | is often perceived as non-verbal shouting and can |
| presentation and language. When communicating in a | | | | potentially offend someone;o Rather than continuing an |
| business environment, remember that first impressions | | | | ongoing back-and-forth dialogue on a topic via e-mail, |
| are important and lasting. Correct grammar and | | | | pick up the telephone or go to meet with the person. |
| enunciation of words can send a powerful message | | | | This can often more quickly resolve the issue and can |
| about your attitude, education, and abilities. Do not start | | | | save a lot of wasted time or confusion;o Recognize |
| off or negatively impact a relationship by using overly | | | | that people can often misinterpret word meaning |
| familiar phrases or language on the telephone, in writing, | | | | based on their perceptions. A breakdown in |
| or face-to-face, that may come back to haunt you | | | | communication and relationships can sometimes result |
| later. Examples of poor practices include the following | | | | without your ever fully understanding what happened;o |
| (or variations of them).o "How ya doin'?"o "Hi"o "What's | | | | Be cautious of using Blind Courtesy Copies (BCC). This |
| up?"o "Right on"o "I hear that"o "See ya"o "Bye-Bye"o | | | | function allows you to send a copy to someone |
| "Uh huh"o "Yep"o "Naw"o "That's what I'm talking 'bout" | | | | without the original recipient's knowledge. The question |
| When calling someone on the telephone or when | | | | might surface as to why you hid the fact that so and |
| greeting talking with them, use language and delivery | | | | so got a copy without the original recipient being |
| that is going to make and leave a positive impression | | | | notified? The suspicion could be that you are trying to |
| on your message recipient. Be enthusiastic, friendly, and | | | | hide something or go behind someone's back on an |
| professional at all times. You never know who is | | | | issue. Since relationships are built on trust, why risk a |
| listening. | | | | breakdown over something as simple as a BCC?o |
| Presenting a Polished Image | | | | Don't make assumptions if you do not receive a |
| Your voice is not the only thing that projects your | | | | response. It is often a good idea to follow up on email |
| image. You physical appearance says much about | | | | involving meeting times, dates and projects to make |
| you attitude, self-image, values, beliefs, and ability to | | | | sure that everyone involved has the same |
| handle various situations. Each generation has its own | | | | understanding. Many meetings are missed or people |
| beliefs related to appearance. Hair, make-up, clothing, | | | | come unprepared for them everyday because |
| jewelry, accessories, and other personal aspects | | | | someone "assumed;"o Never respond to a message if |
| evolve regularly from generation to generation. | | | | you are angry or upset over the sender or something |
| Whenever you get two people from different | | | | that he or she said in an e-mail. You may long regret |
| generations together, they are likely to disagree on | | | | doing so. |
| what is appropriate. One thing is for certain regarding | | | | Certainly, the rules of etiquette have changed over the |
| appearance - if you go into a given workplace, each | | | | years. The question is have you changed with them? |
| has its own culture and rules of behavior. Violate them | | | | Stay current and stay connected in order to maintain a |
| and your boss, co-workers and customers will have a | | | | professional presence. |
| very specific and sometimes negative reaction to you. | | | | |