business etiquette

Have you observed social gaffes and just plain inappropriate behavior at business meetings? Have you ever seen someone make a fool of themselves in a business meeting? Do you feel comfortable in knowing what to do as proper business etiquette in a business meeting? It is very important to know proper business etiquette because it is very critical to your image and the relationship building process.

In my business career and in particular, during my business coaching endeavors, I have learned some very powerful tips to help avoid mistakes in business etiquette that are so easy to make. Your strategic thinking business coach wants to share ten (10) of my favorites. Here they are:

Business Etiquette Tip #1: Always pay attention when someone is talking with you. This is one of the best tips and a great compliment to give the other person.

Business Etiquette Tip #2: Use a firm handshake when being introduced to someone. This shows confidence, warmth, openness and sincerity. Avoid a strong aggressive grip handshake, which makes you appear insensitive and domineering.

Business Etiquette Tip #3: Only speak after the other person has stopped talking. It is very rude to interrupt. This will indicate you are polite and will enable you to listen better, which will enhance your becoming a great conversationalist.

Business Etiquette Tip #4: When speaking, use a calm and even voice and a volume to suit the business situation.

Business Etiquette Tip #5: Dress appropriately for the business meeting situation only “dress down” only the host or hostess of the meeting has given permission.

Business Etiquette Tip #6: Squarely face the person you are speaking with and avoid turning your body away from that person. This behavior can be insulting and very negative.

Business Etiquette Tip #7: Always obey the rules about smoking. Remember that when you light up to smoke you will be instantly disliked by those who do not like smoke and even by those people that do.

Business Etiquette Tip #8: When drinking alcohol, always hold your drink in your left hand. This enables you to shake someone’s hand with your right hand. And it keeps your right hand dry and warm. And remember to always control your drinking!

Business Etiquette Tip #9: Record the person’s name, along with contact and personal and business information in your personal organizer. Visualize the person as you do this and repeat their name aloud a few times also.

Business Etiquette Tip #10: Always respect the other person’s “comfort zone” which is about 3 feet around a person’s body. Be sensitive to avoid standing too close and invading the person’s “comfort zone” which will cause them to dislike your intimidating and insensitive behavior. And be careful with touching gestures. The only safe place to touch another person is the hand when you shake hands.

Business etiquette in Latin America has been very much influenced by its colourful history from the Spanish invasion onwards. However, it cannot be said that the region is a homogeneous community with shared business etiquette. In general, business people in Latin America are seen to be pre-disposed to be effusive, garrulous and inquisitive, although business etiquette in some areas such as Bolivia or Peru tends to be more reserved in nature.

Just at the countries across Latin America are diverse in nature, so are are their weather patterns. When planning a business trip to the region it pays to check the weather and climate setting off.

It is advisable to ensure when setting out on a business visit to Latin America that documents and material relating to business has been translated into Spanish. Indeed this would be seen as correct etiquette. It is further advised that close attention should be paid when in Latin America to timing. It would not be etiquette to arrive late for a meeting and it is essential to allow for traffic in heavily congested areas.

An accepted etiquette in most Latin American countries is that of the concept of family which can extend beyond ties to fellow colleagues, so that they may mix business with leisure including members of family and nepotism is common. Seniority relating to age in business, especially in family concerns in Latin America is regarded as appropriate etiquette and the older member is often the person to have the last say.

It is also common etiquette in Latin America to conduct matters of business in a more relaxed manner than that of their western counterparts. They tend to consider that it is good business to become more acquainted through convivial conversation so that patience becomes a must. It would not be good etiquette to attempt to take over a conversation. Latin Americans prefer to leave the managers to have the control.

Another form of accepted etiquette during business discussion in Latin America often involves sitting closer to one another than would be seen as general practice in North America or Europe. It would not be etiquette however, to try to change position and move away as this could be construed as hostile.

Business people in the region are predominantly conservative in their dress and can be quite status conscious so it is essential etiquette to dress accordingly so as not to cause offence by dressing down.