Decoding Office Etiquette & Proper Behavior

Office Etiquette and Then Some

Television Interview by Mellisa Paul of Sac&Co with Etiquette expert, Rebecca Black of Etiquette Now.

Basic Manners Rule!

Respect
Kindness
Consideration
Courtesy

Q: The word etiquette gets thrown around a lot, but what does the term encompass?

A: Etiquette is basically the "rules" society creates and expects as proper behavior.

Q: As an etiquette consultant, what do you find is the most frequent etiquette problem that people have?

A: The most frequent problem people tend to have is the "me" factor. They tend to forget that everything they do affects others. They want, they do, and they feel outraged when others are offended.

What should I wear? Is the most asked etiquette question.

Q: Why do you think people are so concerned with having the right etiquette?

A: Basically, people don't want to be embarrassed by being ignorant of the "rules". The French call this déclassé, which means the person is of no class or lower class because he/she doesn't know the social norms. Knowing what behavior is expected, proper etiquette, makes us feel more comfortable in all situations.

Q: Office etiquette is something that almost everyone has different ideas on, what is proper office etiquette?

A: We tend to think of office etiquette as a stuffy, strict set of rules. But for the most part, it is common sense. We treat all our customers (internal and external) well and fair. Also, our actions and appearance will be scrutinized greatly in the workplace, so we should consider how we wish to be viewed.

Q: What’s your favorite piece of advice to give people?

A: Always consider that everything we do affects others. And commit a random act of kindness (RAK) every day.

Q: Where can people find more information?

A: Read this or visit any of my other blogs for the most up-to-date advice.

More by Rebecca

How to Deal with Frustrating Breakroom Behavior

How to Deal With Irritating, Loud, Sick and Clueless Coworkers

Using Goals to Increase Production

Comments

When is it Appropriate to Give Gifts to Supervisors

Dear Rebecca, I've read your comments regarding office gift -giving online. What guidelines apply when gifts are to a departing supervisor? When the departure also causes the termination of others on the supervisor's team, should they also receive gifts? Thanks, Michael Dear Michael , Good question. It is always optional to give gifts , especially in the workplace. So, there is no firm 'guidelines' about giving to departing supervisors. However, if it’s customary to give gifts to those who depart in your workplace, then everyone who is leaving should receive one. It would be expected. The gifts shouldn't be expensive and could be a farewell lunch or office party with a cake and beverages. Sincerely, Rebecca More by Rebecca How Our Actions Can Affect Our Professional Image How to Eat Difficult Foods at a Business or Social Function Interview: business meals & ...

Office Etiquette 101: How to Deal With Irritating, Loud, Sick and Clueless Coworkers

Tools for Sharing Office Space With Those Who Don't Share Well Coworkers can drive a person crazy. No doubt. Still, there are ways to deal with this behavior in a civilized manner. What follows are the most common issues, tools to deal with issues, and some dos and don'ts for those sharing personal space in the workplace. How do I deal with the loud, irritating, and annoying workmate? Everyone who works in a cubical jungle knows this person. He is the one who does everything loudly. All hear his telephone conversations. He often stands in the aisle telling jokes and laughs loudly. His noisy demeanor makes it difficult to concentrate on work, resulting in a severe drop in productivity. Professionalism is at stake as well, with a laugh track playing in the background of coworkers' phone conversations. Noisy as well, she is equally familiar with office slaves. She is the habitual fiddler. She t...

Good Manners are Important for Job Seekers & University Students

Interview with an Etiquette Consultant As an etiquette consultant, I'm often interviewed. Many of these interviews concern the importance of using good manners in the workplace. What follows are the most often asked questions and my replies. Question Are manners important in the workplace and does it give someone an edge? My Reply One of my favorite quotes is “Our good manners are the key to open doors of opportunity.” Good manners are perceived by others as excellent "people skills", which are so highly prized by employers. Those with excellent people skills are those who succeed. Question It appears that college students are primarily focused on how much they will earn when graduating, but sincerely lack finer personal skills. Will this hurt them in the workplace? My Reply Unfortunately, yes. Too often university students think that if they narrowly focus on their studies, a huge paycheck is guaranteed. While it is true that employers are looking fo...

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