BUSINESS ETIQUETTE

… from the restaurant to the

office

I. EYE CONTACT AND HANDSHAKE

• Project confidence• Research from University of Iowa:• Solid Handshake>Appearance

• Seen as more employable and better social skills

• Show that you’re trustworthy• One of the first nonverbal clues to a

personality• 7 rules to follow (see reading)• Practice in school: greet people! • Teachers and peers J

II. BE TOTALLY

PRESENTABLE

• “Dress for the job you want”• When in doubt,

overdress• Style + Modesty are

the keys• Avoid fidgeting or

distracting behaviors• Don’t be smelly or

messy• It’s a distraction!

• Do not engage: Bite your tongue; people like to vent• Look for a positive solution:• “I’m sorry you feel that

way; what can we do to repair the problem?• “What would you

propose if you were in my position?”

• Kick it down a notch• Don’t raise your voice.

Ever. (Lose control!)

III. THE CUSTOMER IS (_____) RIGHT

IV. RESPECT EVERYONE AT ALL TIMES• The examples are too many to provide:• Eating someone’s food in the office fridge

• http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2732898/Dear-Sandwich-Thief-Mans-hilarious-response-passive-aggressive-sign-posted-offices-fridge-door-sparks-incredible-kitchen-note-war.html

• Name-calling• Yelling at co-workers• Racial/ethnic/sexual/inappropriate jokes• Avoiding/ignoring someone• General insincerity (Ex: Pretending to be busy…)• Finishing the coffee/copy paper/etc, not

replacing• 1000s of others

V. AUTHORITY EXISTS• Follow the chain of

command• Annoyed at your

manager? Don’t e-mail the CEO in New York

• Use formal titles/greetings until told otherwise• Be open, honest, and

up-front with co-workers and your boss. It’s much easier than lying.

VI. THINK FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE• Know your boss/client/co-worker• Should you really send them a text?• Do they actually care about your cat?• Go overboard on polite respect until you

know otherwise

VII. KNOW BASIC ETIQUETTE

• Be on time• Watch your language• Avoid improper cell phone use (AT

ALL TIMES!!!!!)• BE PROFESSIONAL –

• Answering the phone• Greeting a customer• Sending an e-mail• Doing anything on the

company’s behalf!

• Be social. But know when to stop talking.• Use Academic

Language.• Work so that your

actions speak for you.• Remember: you’re always making an impression.

VIII. FOCUS ON RESULTS

HOW TO BE A SUCCESSFUL, PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATOR IN THE REAL WORLD

Let’s Combine our Skills!

PROJECT OVERVIEW

• Product (50 pts)• Presentation (50 pts)• Goals:

• Use your notes• Boil down the fundamental

Communication skills you need to be successful in life• Make your tips easy to

understand and follow

THE PREZI PRESENTATION• Prezi Presentation• (Get rid of most provided content… make your own

with your partner!)• Cover slide and title• Exactly 5 tips, formatted as such:

Make great eye contact. Eye contact conveys trust and confidence, which are both highly desirable traits in any social or business situation. Look everyone –customers, co-workers, colleagues – in the eye when you encounter them.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION• Grade based on effort, editing, organization, and outcome

• Focus on conciseness: One bolded sentence and two or three explanatory sentences each. Max.

• Go above and beyond: Pictures, images, clever wording, artistry… go for the good stuff!

• Have copies made for the audience! No projector will be allowed.

• Information processing is key. Break down everything we’ve learned to make the most important concepts easy to understand.

• See www.missskirtich.com or Google Classroom for rubric!Due next class!