Why business etiquette is important

I’m currently busy preparing for a business etiquette training. It’s for the manufacturing unit of a large Indian brand. And guess who the audience is? A set of engineers. Yes, my favourite. Being one myself, I do relate to them the best.

                                                    

I’m sure you must be curious as to what topics I’m going to cover in this business etiquette training. Well, it’s going to be a mixed bag. A little bit of face to face etiquette, meeting, telephone and email etiquette.

So, what is business etiquette and why is business etiquette training so important?

Well, business etiquette it simply our mannerisms in a business scenario. The way we present ourselves in our communication with various people we interact with like customers, colleagues, superiors, subordinates, vendors, suppliers, etc. The way we talk when meeting people, shaking hands, greeting, introducing ourselves, being polite; to how we talk while on the phone, opening and closing a call, putting it on hold, etc. It also covers how we start and end emails, how to write in clear and concise words what we mean, etc.; to how to behave while attending a meeting.

How does it help?

1. It firstly helps us improve our interpersonal relationships skills by treating everyone with respect. Whether it be a customer, vendor, supplier, subordinate or superior; who doesn’t want to be treated with respect and feel like an equal. We all do. And following business etiquette is an excellent way to ensure that.

2. Business etiquette training provides us with guidelines while communicating. And many of us would be at a complete loss if we had to communicate without them! It provides a direction and gives us a set of dos and don’ts that can help us in not only starting a conversation well but also completing it in a polite and courteous manner. Just imagine what it would be like to not know what to do when you go to meet a prospective client for the first time!

3. Professionalism is another area that business etiquette training really works on. Don’t you feel great when you receive a call from a vendor who never forgets to greet you and also conveys his message in a well-articulated manner! Truly, business etiquette is what really helps you create a great impression on people.

And what happens when professionalism and interpersonal relationships improve? We become more successful as individuals. And it becomes easier to achieve our desired goals and success faster.

And you know the best part? Not only does it affect us, it also rubs off on those around us. We actually start becoming a role model and people start following our ways. This not only improves them, but also takes the organisation to the next level and gives customers a whole new experience.

Yup, one training, multi-fold advantages!