It’s About People
There are different established ‘rules’ for situations such as how to conduct yourself properly at a business lunch or how to write a business letter and while there are different accepted forms of etiquette to cover different work situations, when it comes down to it, it’s all about people and creating the right impression. The key element being that, in many situations, you only get one chance to impress and that can make a huge difference in terms of your company’s financial aspirations and how both you and your company are perceived by others.
You Can’t Know It All Right Away
While most people understand the meaning of good manners and behavior and how that translates to the work environment, we can’t be expected to know it all right away. When we begin a new job, we’re all going to know that we best be mindful of our Ps and Qs when it comes to the type of language we use and that we need to take care of things like our personal hygiene, however it’s important to try to get underneath the surface of what’s acceptable and what’s frowned upon. Therefore, in a new job, you should quickly look to establish your knowledge of the basics as they pertain to that particular company. So, things like how managers are addressed, i.e. first name or title and surname and the ‘house style’ for things like memos, e-mails and letters are all things that you’ll want to get to know right away.
The Basics
Initially, the best way to go about learning the etiquette of a particular company is to go in and behave as you would if it was your parents or grandparents observing you. Try to blend in to your new environment as seamlessly as you can by observing the behaviors of others. This is the best way of finding out what is considered acceptable and what isn’t. Get to know your colleagues outside the actual working environment, even if that means just chatting with them at break time. The sooner you get to know them, the more quickly you’ll get to understand how the dynamic of your particular company works and how you should conduct yourself.
You shouldn’t get too hung up on work etiquette to the point where you instill a sense of fear and trepidation inside yourself. Basic common sense, decency & professionalism is all you’re really going to need when you start a new job and the rest you’ll learn quickly as you go along each day. And remember, if you’re unsure about any aspect of what you’re doing, you’ll have colleagues close by who will be only be too happy to help you.
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