Want a Promotion? Behave as if You've Already Got It - Guide to Workplace Etiquette
The etiquette and manners of today’s younger generation has become much more relaxed than our previous generations. This not only gives the perception of a lazy and disrespectful group of young people, but it can also cause major snafus in the workplace. While the general etiquette of the 22nd century may not be quite as strict as past years, in the workplace there are many rules that still apply. Failing to follow these rules of etiquette can not only cause you to lose business, but it can also cause you to miss a promotion or lose your job altogether. For the younger generation coming into the workforce, it’s important to understand the general guidelines of how they are expected to behave if they wish to be successful.
Respect
Maybe your high school science teacher didn’t mind being on a first name basis, but in the workplace respecting your superiors is still expected. By addressing them using their first name only, you are implying that they are below or equal to you. In reality, they are your superior and have earned a certain amount of respect. Address them with Mr., Ms., or Mrs., followed by their last name. Using sir or ma’am is also recommended. While you may have a more laid back boss who exclaims that Mr. Smith is his father and insists that you call him by his first name, it’s always best to start out using proper etiquette unless you are instructed to do otherwise.
Phone Etiquette
Whether you’re chatting with your mom, roommate, or a client, a certain degree of phone etiquette is always necessary in the workplace. First of all, nobody wants to try to decipher your hand signals or read your lips while you silently mouth words to them with a phone attached to your ear. If your phone conversation can’t wait, then other conversations can. Not only is this rude and disrespectful, but it’s also a common cause of miscommunication. Also, nobody needs or wants to know your personal business. If you’re on a personal call, refrain from talking loudly and exposing everybody to your conversation. Speak quietly and discreetly, even in the elevator.
Consideration
If you work on the fifteenth floor with the Senior Vice President, that’s good for you. You must have worked hard to get there and you probably deserve it. However, behaving like you’re superior to the mail room clerk or the janitor who cleans your bathrooms isn’t okay. If you breeze into the mailroom and grab your stack of mail, acknowledge the people who get it ready for you. Don’t bark at the janitor that your bathroom is out of paper towels. They are people too, and chances are they work hard to make your job easier. Smile and acknowledge them, engage in small talk, and make an effort to make the people outside of your work bubble feel appreciated.
It goes without saying that please and thank you are still encouraged in the work place as well. Basic courtesies such as holding the door for a women or the person walking behind you are not just the ways of the past. In order to maintain a professional appearance and present yourself as an educated, competent person, you must adhere to these basic etiquette guidelines. It’s mostly common sense. Behave as a professional, mature adult and you’ll be well on your way to being one.
Steven Henning writes about investment opportunities for small businesses at http://creditscore.net.
Contributed by Josh Anderson
