Corporate Etiquette

1. Dress Code Find out before hand if you can, about the way everyone dresses in your Organization before you join the organisation. a) Is a tie necessary?- Generally it is, if you are in Sales or Marketing or when wearing a jacket during the winter. The following has to borne on mind: b) Half sleeve shirts - with or without ties are not appropriate. c) T Shirts are not allowed. d) Sandals or slip-ons not Ok. Only lace-up shoes are formal wear. e) Shirt should be worn tucked in. Formal trousers (not jeans) are appropriate. f) Piercings, tattoos etc. are generally out of place at the workplace. g) Do take a bath, use a deodorant, an after-shave and wear comfortable clothes. You can then conquer the world. h) Some companies have the last working day of the week as a day when casual wear is allowed. 2. Handshake It is the only body contact between two people in a formal environment. It can communicate warmth, genuine concern, strength, indifference or weakness. There are five determining factors: 1) Degree of firmness of the grip 2) Dryness of hand 3) Depth of grip 4) Duration of grip 5) Eye-Contact 3. Dealing with the boss One would find different kinds of bosses at work-place. a) Always use the positive approach. b) Be yourself. c) Have a learning attitude. d) Accept your mistakes and try not to repeat them. e) Keep company goals and objectives in mind. f) Have a balanced approach: Neither go overboard with praise nor be reserved and secluded g) Seek clarifications frankly. 4. Dealing with peers and subordinates a) Have a professional camaraderie with peers at work place. b) Personal friendships should be kept out. c) Neither be overtly familiar nor be overtly cold. 1

d) Elicit respect by treating others with respect. e) Do not lose your temper. Use civil language 5. Dealing with support staff a) b) c) d) e) f) g) Treat them with respect. Set clear and achievable objectives. Give clear instructions. Be objective in assessment. Organize yourself to set a good example. Establish a healthy working relationship. Be liberal with praise.

6. Business Card Etiquette a) Dont give it to everyone you meet-you would seem like a cheap salesperson and that is not the image you would like to project. b) Make sure that your business cards are in a clean and good condition. c) When you receive a card take a moment to look at it and make positive comments about some aspect of the card-this shows your respect and interest in the person. d) Place the other persons card in a front pocket and not back pocket. e) If someone hands you a card that you dont want ,dont refuse it. Accept it, look at it and put it in your pocket. Throw it out later. 7. Time Management at work place a) Reach your work place 10 minutes before scheduled time. b) Before coming for work make a list of all the things that are pending for the day and prioritise them. c) Take one thing at a time and complete it before moving on to the next. d) Organize your table systematically with in-tray and outtray for papers. e) When you pick up a paper from the in-tray,try and complete action on it and send it to the out tray. f) Ensure that one paper is handled only once. g) Also prioritise your emails for action. Put them in separate e-folders for quick access. h) Before leaving for the day make a list of items pending for the next day. i) Good time management increases efficiency and more importantly-effectiveness. 8. Planning for meetings a) b) c) d) Get the agenda for the meeting. Do your home-work well prior to the meeting. Reach the meeting place before the scheduled time. Carry all the relevant papers with you. Tag the important papers you need to access if you are carrying a file. e) A well-prepared person is heard and makes greater impact in a meeting. 2

9. Language and mannerisms a) Please remember that language and behaviour at the work place is usually different than in colleges. It is more formal. Hence care to be taken to use appropriate words which are socially acceptable in a professional environment. b) A business environment requires professional and working relationships where personal bias or likes and dislikes are to be discouraged. c) Certain mannerisms which are acceptable with a friend may not go well in a business environment e.g. Chewing nails, licking a finger, backslapping, calling names etc. d) Some office protocol/code of conduct has to be followed in corporates. Please ask for a copy from the HR department after you join the organisation. 10. Business Dining When you take someone out on an official dinner, select a clean hygienic and multi cuisine place unless you are sure about the guests liking. Table Manners: a) The fork goes to the left and the spoon and knife go to the right of your plate. On a table laid already, one should begin with the cutlery farthest from the plate. b) Food items go on the left so the small plate on the left is yours. c) Drinks including coffee cups should be on the right. d) Always offer a dish to the left. e) If your fork or spoon is accidentally knocked to the floor, discreetly ask the waiter to bring another one. f) Please see that if ladies are accompanying you, it is good etiquette to ensure that the menu card is offered to them and the waiters take their order first and also they are served first.

g) If you are the host, dont call for dessert until everyone has finished. h) Ask for a finger bowl to clean your fingers if they are soiled. i) When you have finished, wipe your hands with a napkin and leave it crumpled to the left of the plate.

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