Managing your behaviors in a positive way – good manners or “etiquette” if you will – will serve you well in your business and personal life. The term “business etiquette” refers particularly to those behaviors in the business world that can impact your career favorably. But what is it exactly? The dictionary defines etiquette as “the conduct or procedure required by good breeding or prescribed by authority to be observed in social or official life.” Now, here’s the problem with that definition: it conjures up images of people drinking tea out of delicate china cups with their pinkie fingers extended. For that reason, I don’t like the term “etiquette.”
Emily Post once said, “Etiquette is the science of living.” Ah, now that’s better. Given that it’s all about our behaviors and attitudes, I choose to call this concept “Business and Social Dynamics,” since we’re talking about the dynamics of your interactions in your business and social life. There are other terms I like, as well: presence, professionalism, emotional intelligence. Why is this concept so important? When our behaviors are positive and professional, we have a powerful, positive presence – we’re noticed and taken seriously. When we practice these skills, we’re more likeable. And when we’re more likeable, our interactions are more productive, our environment is more pleasant, and our desired outcomes are usually more successful.
Here are some of these dynamics or behaviors — little things that mean a lot:
Show interest in others. Nothing – and I mean nothing – is a stronger likeability factor. Be a good listener. Pay attention when others are talking, hear what they’re saying, and let them know you’ve heard them by responding appropriately. Don’t interrupt someone who is talking. Resist trying to top another person’s story. Practice basic good manners: say “please,” “thank you,” and “excuse me” when appropriate. Step up, take initiative, volunteer – it’s extremely memorable. Learn to make proper introductions. Here’s a tip: whenever possible, you say the name of the more important person first. Strive to learn and remember people’s names. Repeating the name, asking for its spelling, committing to remembering it, and making word associations will help. Return phone calls and emails promptly. Mind your dining manners. Don’t talk with your mouth full, learn place settings so you know which glass is yours (everything you drink from is on the right), choose your utensils from the outside in, put your napkin on your lap when you sit down at the table, and leave it there until you rise to leave. Compliment good ideas and good work. Be a team player. Not everyone can be the captain. Don’t engage in malicious gossip or spread rumors. Don’t whine and complain to others about things that can’t be fixed. Make your Facebook and other social media profiles clean and professional – something you’ll have no regrets about. Write a note – to say thank you, congratulations, best wishes, I’m sorry, etc. Strive to make others feel comfortable – whether it’s a newcomer, a customer, a guest, a junior associate. Show enthusiasm and energy in everything you do.
By: Barbara Busey
Posts Tagged ‘Personal Life’
Become A Better Business Person
November 30th, 2009
Let me ask you this… What makes a successful business owner?
Well for me, a successful business owner is someone that earns well into six figures or more each year from their business, working around 3 to 4 days (or less) per week.
I call this ‘successful’ because if they can make a few hundred thousand a year from their business, and only work a few days per week – they have to have a lot of great things in place…
Not just in their business – but in their personal life.
It tells me that in their business they have fabulous systems and staff members that are willing and able to work even when the owner isn’t there.
And the business would have great information systems so that the business owner would know everything that’s going on (even though they’re not there) – so they can still ‘control’ the business.
They’d have excellent marketing and sales systems that day in day out draw in ‘ideal’ customers that willingly buy from the business, at full price.
Plus because of the level of service and quality in the business the customers are loyal and enthusiastically refer other people to the business.
The business owner would also have a high level of trust in their staff to run the business – which shows me a couple of things.
Number 1, they’d have excellent staff recruitment and training programs to build their staff into competent team members.
And Number 2 – They’d have a high level emotional maturity to allow this to happen.
In their personal life, I’d consider these business owners successful because they would have enough free time during the week to spend on their own doing exercise or their favourite hobbies.
This recharges their ‘batteries’ and keeps them fresh. Thus they always seem to be ‘on-the-ball’.
Plus, they spend good quality time with their partner at home and their family.
And that’s crucial.
Just ask anyone whose business has caused a marriage break up, and/or illness through stress.
You see, growing a business that overtakes your life – is very, very easy. Most business owners achieve this within the first couple of weeks of starting!
Growing a business that also enhances your lifestyle – is a lot more difficult.
But it is possible.
And that’s what I do with the business owners I work with.
We create profitable business growth – that enhance their lifestyles
For me it’s about – Business and Life Harmony.
So what’s the underlying secret to achieving it?
Commit to becoming a better business person.
Every successful business owner will tell you this…
It’s not one single thing that will make the difference to your business growth.
It’s a lot of things.
You see most business owners are waiting for the ‘one big’ order or the ‘one great year’ or the ‘one great staff member’ that will make all the difference.
The successful business owners know differently.
The successful business owners know that to have an extraordinary business – they must be an extraordinary business person.
They know that if they want to grow to $2 Million… they have to learn how to become a $2 Million business owner. And this requires improving their business skills.
There are many skills to learn.
You’ve got to know how to make the product or deliver the service.
You’ve got to know how to market your business
How to sell, how to find suppliers, how to negotiate, how to hire people, how to train people, how to read and understand financial statements the list goes on and on.
Yet – it can be, and is simple… when you learn how to do it simply.
And that’s my role with you.
You see as a business coach my skill is making your business growth predictable, controllable and a hell of a lot easier.
All of my clients will tell you that.
So back to you.
If you want to grow your business – you may realize that you need to learn some new information and skills.
And that’s what Super successful business owners have done before you.
They realize that to really grow their business – they MUST become a better business person.
Most ‘unsuccessful’ business owners believe that the way to grow their business is by making a better product, or providing a better service.
They feel that if they have the ‘best’ product – the market will come to them.
Well the product or service is only one part of your business. It’s not enough.
Super successful business owners initially build their business on a good product or service. Then when it comes time to grow… they focus on areas that will grow their business.
Super successful business owners focus on areas that most unsuccessful business owner’s neglect or are too busy to focus on.
Areas like…
• Creating Vision, Mission and Values Statements
• Marketing
• Sales
• Customer Care
• Operations
• People
• Team building
• Financial statement
• Financial analysis
• Taxation
• Law
• Technology
• Key Performance Indicators
• Business/life balance
• And building their wealth through
All of these areas sound separate yet they are extremely interconnected and dependant on each other. And as we travel through each session you’ll hear how each topic is linked to, and how much each topic relies on the other topics for its success.
That’s what makes a great business person – using all the areas.
It may seem like a long list. If it does or doesn’t don’t worry. It’s a list that I’m absolutely passionate about helping you with.
Because that’s the first step to growing your business.
Become a better business person by working on your business, rather than just working in it.
It’s what I do with clients that I work with one-on-one over a couple of years in my Business Coaching Program.
Copyright © 2006 by Casey Gollan. All Rights Reserved
By: Casey Gollan
