Mindful of this phenomena, consider the advice of Lillian Eichler Watson “Don't reserve your best behavior for special occasions. You can't have two sets of manners, two social codes - one for those you admire and want to impress, another for those whom you consider unimportant. You must be the same to all people.”
Good business etiquette is about being on your best behavior and treating people as you appreciate being treated.
Stay employed and protect your professional reputation with these best practices:
- Be courteous and thoughtful to the people around you, in all professional environments—within your own organization, out in the marketplace, and even when encountering competitors
- Consider other people’s feelings, stick to your convictions as diplomatically as possible
- Talk and visit with people, regardless of their position or standing—remember what you can about people and to be thoughtful
- If you show respect and courtesy to everyone, you avoid discomfort or damaging your chances in any unexpected turn of events like a merger, acquisition or consolidation that brings together people in unforeseen ways
- Speak well of superiors within and outside the company, and give your leaders the benefit of the doubt—never surprise your boss or take her or her off guard
- In foreign or unfamiliar surroundings, be considerate and express an interest in learning—if in doubt, err on the conservative, formal side
- Don’t interrupt meetings or work sessions with telephone calls, use of electronic devices or ducking out—thank meeting attendants, and when attending meetings offer thanks to the organizer
- Always return calls; with email, remember that you’re communicating with a person, not a computer
- Look after new people and visiting workers—be sure that person has the resources and information that he or she needs to do the job
- Pass along credit and compliments—speak well of your coworkers and always point out their accomplishments
- Arrive on time and don’t overstay your welcome
- Because people make so many assumptions about you based on your image, it's important to think about whom you want them to think you are and dress accordingly
- Lying to and gossiping with people is never acceptable—inflammatory or disrespectful electronic communication can resurface and is best never written
- Poor etiquette loses the sale—speak only kindly to, and with respect to, prospects and clients—comments spoken behind the backs of clientele have a way of coming back around
