The Lost Art of Etiquette
Civility and courtesy in business are the proper way to behave and can also have their rewards. We have clients that are polite to our staff, and they leave a good impression. We also have clients that have been rude and arrogant towards our staff. Who do you think is recommended or called if there is a business opportunity?
We deal with a variety of professions including realtors, lawyers, accountants, appraisers, contractors, trades, etc. Our staff and their families, friends and contacts choose to deal with those people that are competent and polite. How many people around the coffee table can you reach by simply respecting the people that you are dealing with and treating them the way that you would like to be treated?
Here are some politeness tips:
#1 – When going into a meeting, turn off your cell phone or ask permission to leave it on.
#2 – Let people exit an elevator before you go in.
#3 – Thank the person that has just served or assisted you.
#4 – Don’t lie (this is a big one).
#5 – Forgive people when they make a mistake.
#6 – Seek a solution to the problem instead finding someone to blame.
#7 – Have a second party look at your e-mail before you press send. (There are many rude/bad e-mails that are out there forever.)
#8 – Be fair and reasonable when dealing with stressful situations. Let others know why the situation is urgent and that they can be part of the solution and not part of the problem. Most of us want to be of help.
#9 – Make the coffee if you empty the pot.
#10 – Use spell check (I have missed this one too often).
Rory Campbell
