Business Etiquette

Cell phones, checking email at a client site, iPods, blackberries etc. - when is it appropriate to use them in the business arena? The latest technology has changed the way we do business. It gives us the tools we need to respond to our clients at a moments notice. It is important to keep in mind though that common courtesy is still important. Here are a few tips:

iPods - Be mindful to manage the perception of billable hours if you are working at a client site as well as the perception that you are hard at work when your manager walks by. Having an iPod or blue tooth in your ear all day long may not leave the impression that you are focused on the task at hand.

Cell phones - Cell phones need to be turned off during business meetings, at the office or in a restaurant. If you have an important call to take, inform your guest ahead of time. This will make taking the call less intrusive. Step away while you talk, keep it brief and return to the business at hand.

Blackberries – Don’t assume that it is appropriate to check and respond to your email messages while engaging in conversations, during a meeting or visiting a client.

RSVPs – When you are invited to a business or social event and an RSVP is requested, it is your responsibility to let the other party know if you are or are not attending. To not respond sends a message of self-centeredness; that you are more important than the person who issued the invite.

Returning Phone Calls and Responding to Email Messages – To be on top of your game and leave others wowed by your etiquette skills, our recommendation is to return your phone calls by the end of each business day. Email messages call for the same respect – let the sender know that you received the message and promise a time for your response. It is always better to under promise and over deliver rather than over promising and under delivering.