Top 5 tips for business etiquette

Being an efficient working professional requires only a few, very simple key habits that can easily be internalised in our day-to-day life for a more efficient and professional image.
Here are five key business etiquette tips every working professional should know.

Be on time: This is non-negotiable. Being on time is the foundation principle for anyone who wants to be an efficient working professional. It can pretty much make or mar your professional image. Being on time shows that you respect your work as well as other people's schedules. It's the key quality for any professional at any level of corporate hierarchy. Occasionally, being late for work is understandable if unavoidable situations arise and everyone in the team or your office is informed about the same. If you are meeting a client or business delegates, be well-prepared to get there on time. Late arrival is not an option. Even bad traffic cannot be an excuse for being late in this situation, as it will show your lack of efficiency.

Communicate politely: Being polite in your communication - whether via email or face-to-face - is a credibility enhancer. Communication with a smile or using kind words like 'please' and 'thank you' gets the job done even more promptly. Polite communication shouldn't be misunderstood for being gullible. Professional communication should be authoritative, yet kind. It's challenging, yet extremely important to demonstrate this during adversities. But a rude gesture cannot be taken back and is inexcusable, even in the heat of the moment.
Pay attention to attire: Dress for the job you want to have, and not the job you're currently in. Presenting yourself in a clean, professional manner adds to your visual impact and plays an important role in an efficient professional image. People do business with people, and they will find it easier to put their faith in those that look put together and organised. Fitted clothes, polished shoes, personal hygiene and an overall well-groomed look every day will add brownie points in helping you achieve the designation you want. Dressing well shows that you respect the other person and the work environment. By dressing well, I don't mean dressing expensively; an overall well- groomed, organised image would truly help one in professional growth.

Fight superior attitudes: Demeaning behaviour or superior attitude is a business etiquette faux pas, simply because it doesn't build relationships. Humility, empathy and compassion are key elements for leadership. Taking pride in or advantage of your superior authority is against the principle of business etiquette. Successful leaders and C-suite executives must have those three values mentioned above.

Work to build relationships: Think before acting, and act to build relationships - even if, at a given moment, the situation won't work in your favour. Applying the three principles of etiquette - consideration, respect and honesty - before addressing a challenging situation in hand will prove how you handle crises. Putting relationship-building before your need to get your way shows your maturity and your credibility as a business professional.
wknd@khaleejtimes.com
Konkana Bakshi is Founder, Savoir Faire Academie and former Miss Elegance World