The main difference between business etiquette and secular etiquette is that the first priority is subordination: regardless of gender and age, the subordinate is in the service hierarchy below the leader.

Any company has a set of rules that reflect its HR policy, business style, goals and strategy. This usually includes a dress code, business correspondence, participation in corporate events, organization of work with partners. But in addition to the local norms adopted in any particular firm, there are general rules of conduct in the business environment. Not knowing them often becomes a stumbling block when negotiating with new clients. A professional image is not formed immediately, but business etiquette plays a significant role in this, because a company representative is judged by his deeds, behavior, and the ability to build competent relationships. Failure to comply with business etiquette always causes negative feelings and involuntary rejection.

In Western countries, the rules of business etiquette seem to be absorbed even with mother’s milk. The basic rules of business etiquette are simple and logical, they will be useful to absolutely everyone: from a secretary to a manager.

Time is money

Respect for someone else’s (and yours too) time is the foundation of business communication. You can be an arbitrarily creative director, a brilliant professor, a fantastic sales person, but if you are constantly late, disrupt deadlines and agreements, then you will no longer be respected. Therefore, learn to plan your day, correctly distribute tasks and monitor their implementation.

They are greeted by clothes

You only get one chance to make a first impression. Use it! A business suit, a neat hairstyle, carefully selected accessories – all this will tell much more about a person than his words (especially if he has not yet had time to say anything). Many companies now do not have strict dress code standards, but at formal meetings it is still better to adhere to generally accepted rules and regulations.

Desktop is a mirror of the soul

The golden rule for all time: order on the desktop – order in the head. You don’t have to keep your desk sterile. Besides, this is very strange – you need working tools (and this is not just a computer!), A diary, stickers, and a bunch of other things. But it is not worth turning the workplace into a warehouse for personal belongings and a branch of the library archive.

Literacy is the courtesy of kings

Structured speech, the absence of parasitic words, long pauses and cheeky slang – these are the real signs of a professional in any business. Repetitions, pretentious behavior, parodies in the business world are taboo. Leave that to the actors and toddlers in the sandbox. The same applies to written speech. However, being able to speak well, expressing thoughts in writing will also be easy.

Silence is gold

Yes, most of us sign nondisclosure agreements when hiring, but who takes it seriously? Remember the old poster of 1941 by the artist Nina Vatolina “Don’t talk!”? For many, it would really come in handy.

The suite plays the king: subordination

The team with which you work is of great importance: it is on the leader that good relations in the team and a well-built work process depend. By following business etiquette, a manager must treat all employees equally, maintaining a reasonable distance. Remarks should always be made in private, a demonstrative “whipping” with the whole team will negatively affect the general mood. The subordinate, following the orders of the head, has the right to express his own point of view, but, of course, in the correct form.

As you can see, not all companies use the rules of business etiquette. But if you went to work for a Western company, a large office, or suddenly found yourself in negotiations with foreign partners, these universal rules will help you navigate and not lose your face.