How to Show Good Workplace Etiquette

If you want to be successful in the corporate world, business etiquette is key.  Dealing with others and getting along with them is exceedingly important in the workplace environment.  Learning business etiquette can go a long way.  It can help advance your career, make you day-to-day tasks easier and make work more thoroughly enjoyable.  Following proper business etiquette is essential if you want to get ahead in corporate America.

First off, try your best to be nice to all your colleagues even if you don’t like them or you find them unprofessional or they have other quirks that bother you.  Showing respect to your colleagues is essential if you want to get a good reputation at work and having a good reputation goes a long way.  It ensures that your boss sits up and takes notice and it allows co-workers to be more willing to lend a hand when you’re overwhelmed with projects.

Avoid office gossip.  While it’s easy to become embroiled in “water cooler” talk, try to steer clear of it.  Not everyone you confide in at the office is one hundred percent trustworthy and you never know who your outspoken opinions might get around to.  Don’t bad mouth co-workers or vent too much.  While it might be difficult, try keeping negative opinions about others to yourself.

While you don’t need to get overly friendly, engage your colleagues in casual conversation and try to get to know them better.  Getting insight into things that are going on in their lives beyond business might give you more insight into why they operate the way they do at work.  Invite a co-worker out for lunch or coffee or grab an after-work drink to get to know one another better.  Ask them what their day is like and how they cope with work-life balance.  Showing an interest in your colleagues goes a long way to getting ahead.

Be friendly and outgoing.  A little smile every once in a while can only help you.  Offer to help co-workers with tasks that might be overwhelming to them.  They will likely return the favor in kind.  Show your co-workers that you care about them and that you are a team.  While you always have to focus on your own tasks, going the extra mile every once in a while is a positive and you’ll see that you reap rewards from it.

Avoid bringing your personal problems into the office.  While you might have a stressful personal life, leave it at home; don’t bring it to work with you.  No one wants to hear constant complaints.  Bosses and co-workers expect you to focus on your job every day and act professional.  No one wants to hear complaints 24/7.

Try not to make mistakes.  While it’s bound to happen that you’ll make one on occasion, be cognizant of it and try not to repeat it.  No one wants to be seen as lazy or sloppy in the way they handle assigned tasks.  You can always learn from your mistakes but if you keep repeating them, you’ll soon find yourself in hot water.

Dress the part.  Always make sure you look professional on a day-to-day basis.  Don’t come into work too casual unless your office dress code is such.  The appearance you project is the way others view you and making a good impression is something that sticks with people.  If you dress for success, you’ll find yourself actually achieving that success.

Always appear busy even on your downtime.  Avoid checking personal emails and social media sites too often.  While it’s okay to take a breather every now and again, you need to project an image that you are always taking your job seriously and that between business hours, it comes first.  Look focused and pay attention.  Remember, at any job there are constantly eyes on you even if you don’t see them.

Be on time or in fact be early.  Never keep a business associate waiting.  Their time is valuable too and you have to be respectful of that.  Being late leaves a bad impression with people that they might not soon forget.  If you arrive to meetings and other events in a timely fashion, you’ll get a reputation for fierce professionalism which can only help you get ahead.

Offer a firm handshake.  It shows confidence and professionalism.  It’s a chance to make a good first impression and shows you are serious about your job.  Introductions are important as well as establishing relationship that are long-lasting.

Lastly and most importantly, always communicate effectively.  Be prompt in returning emails and phone calls.  Show other people that you value their time and opinions and that they’re a high priority on your radar.  If you’re slow to get back to people, you’ll find they’ll start to become slow to get back to you.  Quick and transparent open lines of communication are key to workplace etiquette.

So what have we learned here today?  Have you had trouble with workplace etiquette in the past?  Have you found these tips useful or have you used other methods you’ve found more effective?  Leave a comment and let me know.  Opinions are always welcome!

Here are some articles you might want to check out on having good workplace etiquette:

“Good Business Etiquette”: http://smallbusiness.chron.com/good-business-etiquette-2905.html

“Workplace Etiquette”: http://www.careereducation.columbia.edu/resources/tipsheets/skills-business-etiquette

“Business Etiquette”: http://themitchellorganization.com/signature-programs/business-etiquette/

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Until next time…