Building Confidence, Inspiring Success November 22, 2008
I was recently dining with a corporate CEO who was impeccably attired
in a custom tailored suit. Everything about him exuded power
and success, until he buttered his croissant and proceeded
to lick his knife. He was completely unaware that he had committed a faux
pas. My good manners prevented me from showing my horror, however my impression
of him was drastically changed.
One might think that good manners are common sense;
sadly they are not common practice. Dining skills need to be
practiced at home to avoid slipping into bad habits when hosting clients
over a business meal. Etiquette skills are just as important at your place
of business as they are at the luncheon table.
Less face-to-face interaction
is leaving people unskilled and unpracticed in client hosting skills. Today
more than ever, success in business depends on building and maintaining
solid relationships with other people. Mastering business etiquette gives
one the means and confidence to do this well.
The new etiquette
With more women entering executive ranks and starting their own businesses,
the workplace has undergone a quiet revolution. Now business
etiquette is based on the understanding that men and women are treated
as equal colleagues in the workplace. We must show uncommon courtesy to
one another regardless of gender.
Here are some things we need to be aware
of to come across as polished professionals when hosting clients.
Shake hands with confidence
We take the measure of a person based on the way they shake
hands. A good handshake is firm, not weak. Conversely, a
bone-crushing handshake will make you seem overly aggressive. In business
it is standard practice for the host to initiate the handshake.
Rising
to the occasion
Knowing when to stand and remain sitting causes a lot of confusion.
Historically, a man would rise to greet while a woman remained
seated when hosting visitors. Today, proper business etiquette
advises both men and women to rise when greeting visitors as a sign of
respect. Visitors should be escorted through the office both to and from
their appointments with you unless they meet with you frequently. Escorting
means lead them and allow them to follow. When you are a visitor
in someone else’s
business, you should follow their escort.
After you
When going through doors, common sense and efficiency dictate
that whoever reaches the door first opens it for others.
Many men have been socialized with “traditional” values and
are most comfortable using social manners in business situations.
A smart businesswoman graciously accepts either type of etiquette. Social
manners are expected when you are out for dinner with associates, their
spouses or companions, and when you attend a concert, play or sporting
event.
Introducing clients
When hosting clients and introducing them to members of your
organization, remember the client is highest in the business
hierarchy (without him/her there is no business). As such, the client is
always addressed first and your colleagues are introduced to her. Example, “Ms.
Jones, I would like you to meet Mr. Bob Smith, our chief
software engineer who will be overseeing your project.”
The weakest link
Remember that all successful business is about relationships.
Polished soft skills provide the edge an organization needs.
A positive corporate culture and brand emerges when everyone
within an organization exhibits these skills consistently.
A company’s
hosting skills are only as strong as the least savvy employee.
Ultimately, the concern
for people in business is whether or not the cost of poor etiquette and
hosting skills will negatively find its way to the balance sheet. The simple
answer is yes it will.
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This article was provided by Terry Pithers and Joanne Blake, business dining, image and etiquette experts, speakers and creators of the Dining for Success Video Online Training Program.
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Copyright © 2008 Style for Success Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.
