Professionalism and Business Etiquette

What do you think of when you hear the words "business etiquette"? Fancy dinners attended by CEOs? Particular rules for writing letters? Advice about which suit is the "right" suit?All of those things were once considered "business etiquette." But times have definitely changed. Business is no longer the private domain of people in suits and ties. And there's a greater sense of equality between men and women as well as between managers and employees.There's no longer a single set of etiquette "rules" that fits every company or every business situation. The right thing to do in one environment may be unthinkable in another. So today's business etiquette isn't rigid. It's flexible, and the right behavior depends on: -the culture inside the company, -your audience, including your co-workers, customers, and supervisors, -the goals you want to achieve.In this course, you'll learn how to think about culture, audience, and goals to guide you to the correct behavior in many business environments. Specifically, the course will cover behaviors you face every day, including: -fitting in, or adapting to the culture around you, -getting along with the people you work with, -handling sensitive situations, -knowing when to lead and when to follow."To make a pleasant and friendly impression is not only good manners, but equally good business." -- Emily PostWould you know how to use good manners if, as a new employee at a conservative financial institution, your boss told you to "disseminate to the necessary people what you feel are the key findings in the financial report"? Knowing what to do would be good business. What style would you use in your message, and which findings would you include? Which communication medium would you use?The more you understand the role etiquette plays in business communication, the better chance you have of handling uncertain communication situations with style and grace.You'll also know when it's best to use a range of communication tools, from memos and e-mail messages to cellular phones and conference calls.In this course, you'll learn how to make intelligent choices about communication etiquette in your workplace. You'll examine the typical causes of etiquette mistakes in modern communication, learn about a model to help you make communication etiquette decisions, and analyze whether the model was used appropriately for a range of communication situations and tools. You'll also explore etiquette guidelines that apply to the most frequently used communication media in the business world today.What does the word "meeting" mean to you?Regardless of who you are, the word "meeting" probably evokes a strong emotion. Whether that emotion is delight or apprehension, meetings affect everyone in the business world. So why is there such a range of intense feelings when it comes to meetings? Maybe because no two meetings are alike. Some are productive and even fun, and others are like being stuck in traffic, in the smog, on a 100-degree day. What explains such differences in business meetings? What makes one meeting good and another one bad?When meeting facilitators or people who have to participate in meetings begin to apply etiquette to business meeting situations, strange things begin to happen. They're treated better at meetings, and the meetings become more enjoyable and productive.Can learning the principles of proper meeting etiquette really make that much of a difference?You bet it can. Proper etiquette can have a transforming effect on almost any situation, and the business meeting is no exception. In this course, you'll learn about the etiquette of: -business meeting basics, -planning for a meeting, -running a meeting.In days past, workers were more willing to work for a respectable supervisor. Workers still do a better job for supervisors who understand the power of "words and looks." Today, we call those words and looks "etiquette."