Promote your Professionalism with Good Manners
We often hear that manners maketh the man or woman. Having good manners makes sense in this commercial competitive environment.
Good Manners
- Treat everyone with the same courtesy and respect
- Shake hands firmly (web to web) while making eye-contact
- Dress and behave professionally
- Be punctual
- Prepare for each appointment
- Follow up each appointment with a letter or call
- Bring only materials required for the appointment
- Turn off cell phones and pagers while in a meeting
- Give and receive business cards respectfully (use both hands with Asian cultures) with the printing facing the person receiving the card. When receiving the card, take a moment to look at it
- Respect your clients’ and colleagues’ time
- Record all relevant data about your client
- In defining goals at work, state clearly what you want and what you do not want
- Discuss any problems with a clean tonality so not to sound defensive, aggressive or apologetic
- Turn problems into opportunities; be solution oriented
Good manners are cost and time effective because they:
- Improve customer service
- Increase quality of life in the workplace
- Enhance team building and relationships
- Indicate respect for self and for others
- Reflect high values and integrity
- Encourage feedback and negotiation
- Boost productivity and profitability
- Contribute to company moral
