Business Etiquette and Code of Ethics for Professionals
Learning Objectives
Identify what etiquette is.
Discuss the five types of business etiquette.
Learn about the Code of Ethics for Professionals.
Topics
What is Business Etiquette?
Five Types of Business Etiquette
Code of Ethics for Professionals
Core Values and 21st Century Skills
Moral Integrity
Accountability
Critical Thinking
Communication Skills
Values and Habits in Business Etiquette
Values and habits are crucial to business etiquette as they shape an individual's behavior and create a positive, respectful work environment.
Business etiquette, in turn, helps to solidify these values and habits, fostering better relationships and communication within the workplace.
Values drive behavior: Core values guide decision-making and influence how individuals interact with colleagues, clients, and customers.
For example, if a company values honesty, employees are more likely to communicate transparently and avoid misleading information.
Habits reinforce values: Positive habits, like being punctual, responsive, and respectful, align with core values and reinforce them, creating a more positive and professional work environment.
Business etiquette provides structure: It provides a framework for how values and habits are expressed in the workplace, ensuring that individuals understand what is expected and how to behave professionally.
What is Business Etiquette?
Business etiquette refers to the requirements and expectations of social and business behavior, practices, and conduct that are prescribed by social convention, and a code of ethical behavior among professionals.
It’s not just about rules and telling people what they can or can’t do, it’s about ensuring that people are treated with respect.
It basically boils down to demonstrating good manners.
Business etiquette is a type of behavior that team members are expected to follow to uphold the company image and respect each other.
Business etiquette may change from culture to culture, but when everyone understands and follows a particular set of standards, it can create a sense of unity.
Business etiquette is sometimes unspoken, but more often than not, team members will agree upon the basic rules so everyone presents a united image.
When team members follow business etiquette, it builds effective communication in the workplace.
Business etiquette is a set of general guidelines for manners and behavior that allows professionals to feel comfortable and safe at work or in other professional settings.
Why Observe Business Etiquette?
Business etiquette is important because it creates a professional, mutually respectful atmosphere and improves communication, which helps an office serve as a productive place.
People feel better about their jobs when they feel respected, and that translates into better customer relationships as well.
5 Types of Business Etiquette
Workplace Etiquette
Meal Etiquette
Communication Etiquette
Professionalism
Meeting Etiquette
1. Workplace Etiquette
These rules deal with your behavior at the office.
Culture and expectations differ from company to company, so what's rude at one workplace may be normal at another.
Universal Workplace Etiquette
Acknowledge everyone you come into contact with. Even a simple "How are you?" or a quick smile is enough.
Clean up after yourself in shared spaces (i.e., meeting rooms, kitchen, etc.).
Show respect for shared items. Borrowed a stapler? Return it to the correct place. Did the printer run out of paper after you used it? Replenish it.
Practice active listening in conversations.
Don't overshare about your personal life at work. Additionally, topics like religion and politics should be avoided.
Respect people's time by sharing information clearly and succinctly.
2. Table Manners and Meal Etiquette
Put your napkin in your lap when you sit down.
Order items in a similar price range to your dining companions.
Don't start eating until everyone has received their food.
Give others equal opportunities for conversation.
Pass condiments and dishes from left to right rather than reaching across the table.
Chew with your mouth closed.
Don't snap your fingers at your server.
Don't blow your nose at the dinner table. Instead, excuse yourself to visit the restroom.
After the meal is over, partially fold your napkin and put it to the left of your plate.
3. Communication Etiquette
Phone
Email
In-Person
Phone Etiquette
Don't speak too loudly or too softly. If you're worried about your volume, ask, "How am I coming across? Do you need me to talk more or less quietly?"
Never interact with your phone while you're with someone else. Keep it stashed in your pocket or bag at all times.
If you're on a conference call and you're not speaking, mute yourself so the others aren't distracted by the outside noise.
Use a pleasant but professional tone of voice.
Email Etiquette
Aim to answer internal emails within one day and external emails within three days.
Avoid overusing exclamation marks and smiley faces.
Default to "Reply" over “Reply All”
Check with each party before you make an introduction.
Check for grammar and spelling before hitting "send."
Don’t send anything that you wouldn’t say in person.
In-person Etiquette
Steer clear of complimenting someone's appearance, since this can make people feel uncomfortable.
Maintain eye contact 60% to 70% of the time.
Match their speaking volume.
Show interest in what they're saying.
4. Professionalism
Being professional means contributing to a pleasant, productive, and inclusive work environment.
Professionalism includes an entire range of behaviors
Keeping your word: When you make a commitment — whether it's big or small — keep it. If you know that will be impossible, give the other person as much notice as possible.
Being punctual: Show up on time (or early).
Remaining calm: Even in heated situations, do your best to stay cool.
Acting flexible: Sometimes you'll have to stay late, show up early, change plans, move meetings, and more to make things work. Unless this is happening all the time, accommodate these changes without raising a stink.
Using diplomacy: There will be people you don't like — prospects, coworkers, or both. Be kind and amiable anyway.
Accepting constructive criticism: Throughout your career, others will offer feedback. If you're closed off to it, you'll not only harm your professional rapport, but you'll also lose valuable opportunities to improve.
Appearance: Follow the dress code and always practice good hygiene.
5. Meetings Etiquette
Meetings are an important aspect of business communication that allow teams to share ideas, discuss strategy, and get on the same page about projects and priorities.
Send a meeting agenda around when you invite people to attend so they can prepare for the discussion in advance.
Be mindful of time zones and the daily schedules of the people you're inviting when setting a time so nobody has to attend a meeting too early or too late in the day.
Cater lunch or ask people to bring lunch if your meeting is scheduled during a typical lunch hour.
Introduce new team members or first-time attendees to the larger group.
In-person Meetings Etiquette
Test your equipment beforehand to ensure a smooth meeting.
Give attendees up to five minutes to settle in before diving into the agenda.
Follow or set a clear agenda so people have time to think about contributions and ideas before presenting.
Ask questions at an appropriate time. Avoid interrupting someone while they're speaking.
Call on everyone who wants to participate in the discussion, or go around in a circle so everyone can speak.
Don't speak too loudly so as not to disturb people working around you.
Observe your body language; watch out for fidgeting, foot tapping, and swiveling your chair side to side.
Virtual Meetings Etiquette
Look at the camera — not your own face or theirs — so you seem like you're making eye contact.
Shut the door and make sure you're not interrupted by your pets, children, roommates, etc.
Before your meeting, check the area in camera range for inappropriate or overly personal items.
Provide non-verbal acknowledgement, like nodding and smiling.
Follow the dress code — even for virtual meetings.
If you're the meeting facilitator, make sure all participants have the chance to speak or present ideas, even if they're tuning in remotely.
Code of Ethics for Professionals
Code of Ethics is a guide of principles designed to help professionals conduct business honestly and with integrity.
A code of ethics, also referred to as an "ethical code," may encompass areas such as business, a code of professional practice, and an employee code of conduct.
A code of ethics document may outline the mission and values of the business or organization, how professionals are supposed to approach problems, the ethical principles based on the organization's core values, and the standards to which the professional is held.
Sets out an organization's ethical guidelines and best practices to follow for honesty, integrity, and professionalism.
For members of an organization, violating the code of ethics can result in sanctions including termination.
In some industries, including banking and finance, specific laws govern business conduct. In others, a code of ethics may be voluntarily adopted.
The main types of codes of ethics include a compliance-based code of ethics, a value-based code of ethics, and a code of ethics among professionals.
Understanding Code of Ethics
Business ethics refers to how ethical principles guide a business's operations.
Common issues that fall under the umbrella of business ethics include employer-employee relations, discrimination, environmental issues, bribery, insider trading, and social responsibility.
Both businesses and trade organizations typically have some sort of code of ethics that their employees or members are supposed to follow.
Breaking the code of ethics can result in termination or dismissal from the organization.
A code of ethics is important because it clearly lays out the rules for behavior and provides the groundwork for a preemptive warning.
Assignment
List down at least 5 more business etiquette
Name at least 5 “student” etiquette you observe.
Read the Code of Ethics for Professional and research for a local company with a good “code of ethics” policy or practice.