7 Business Etiquette One Must Know to Thrive Professionally

Business Etiquette: Why Is It Important? 

Kristal, an expat from Asia, experienced this for the first time at her new workplace in Costa Rico. Kristal, who is familiar with a professional handshake, wa Business etiquette is not limited to office culture; it's beyond that.  It is a priority to know basic etiquette, whether you are starting a new job in another country or visiting a country for a big client meeting.s taken aback by the kiss she received on her cheek and the half-hugs given by her colleague.  It ended up being an awkward hug, handshakes, and a kiss, which ended up being a showdown where all of them got confused. Luckily, these awkwardness didn’t create an issue for her. Some of her colleagues thought it was funny, which helped break the ice and made it easier to get along. However, when these misunderstandings go beyond simple meetings, that's when conflict arises. In the age of globalisation, for any working professional, it's better to learn business etiquette if you want to be taken seriously. Business etiquette is not limited to office culture; it's beyond that.  It is a priority to know basic etiquette, whether you are starting a new job in another country or visiting a country for a big client meeting. Just like Kristal, who used ESIMWORLD to stay connected in Costa Rica, modern professionals use regional solutions like eSIM plan for New York from ESIMUSA to stay online without any problems when working in several countries. Business etiquette isn’t about how you act in your workplace anymore; it's about how you act professionally in any world setting. 

What is Business Etiquette? 

Successful workplace etiquette is essential for the smooth running of an organisation. Basically, work etiquette is nothing but how professionals interact with each other with absolute decorum to meet the work-related settings. Business etiquette is not just related to workplace etiquette, but it's much broader than we could imagine. 

Meeting etiquette

Let's get back to Krystal’s story. It was Monday morning, and it was her first meeting in her new office, and it had been only a week since she had joined, and she was still adjusting to the new environment. Unfortunately, she couldn't find the meeting room as the office space was huge, she became very anxious to find the way, and finally she ended up being late by five minutes. She was trying to catch up and found herself missing key points. She also didn’t realize that her folded arms and constant glance at her phone were sending the wrong signals. 

No one said anything, even though it was clear that the tension was very high.

It's normal for someone new to a workplace to have to deal with these kinds of scenarios. So, as a new person, how can you get ready to prevent these unpleasant situations? Just remember the dos and don'ts when you are in an in-person meeting.

Dos:

• If you are new to the workspace, try to figure out the layout of the workspace ahead of time so that you don't get lost on your meeting day. 
• Review the agenda and any pre-meeting materials ahead of time, if possible, take a printout or look on your tablet, as mobile screens don't come in handy. 
• Stick to the agenda during the meeting to respect everyone’s time

Don’t:

• Not being punctual on time
• Attending the meeting unprepared
• Stop checking your phones

Virtual meeting etiquette

Krystal, who was new to this town and office a week ago, was overwhelmed, and she was so happy with her calendar today, as most of the meetings she had were virtual meetings. At first, she assumed it would be easier as she doesn't have to commute, worry about her body language, but later she realised video conferencing comes with its own set of rules. From an unexpected background noise to awkward moments due to lag in the internet connection, this didn’t go smoothly. Much like in-person meetings, virtual meeting comes with their own need for professionalism. How you present yourself in front of the screen can make a lot of difference than we think. So the things to be mindful of are 

Dos

• Mute when not speaking
• Unmute to contribute
• Be aware of your surroundings
• Pause before speaking to avoid delays and also to ensure not to accidentally interrupt someone
• Apologies for the interruptions 

Don’t

• Leave the mic on during others’ speaking
• Keeping a distracting, cluttered, or messy background 
• Don’t attend meetings in casual dresses like Pajamas, t-shirts, and loud patterns

Client meeting etiquette

Krystal got invited to her first client meeting, which was her first client meeting in her new office, and she was very nervous. She is well aware of the fact that client meetings are not like internal meetings; this one comes with a higher stake. She wasn’t representing herself, but her entire company. That was when she realised client meetings required a much higher level of preparation than her normal office meetings, as it's not about good manners, but it's about building trust, showing respect, and making a strong impression. 

Dos

• Before the meeting, conduct research on the customer's business, industry, and recent successes. Also, choose a way to communicate that works for both you and the client, since certain cultures value directness and others prefer a more indirect approach.
• Find out what the cultural norms and business practices are in your client's nation.
• Always take notes and don't interrupt when someone is talking.

Don’t

• Don't look like you're not interested or casual.
• Don't publicly disagree with or offend clients. If you don't agree, say so in a polite way.
• Don't use jargon or make your message too complicated.
• Don't promise something you can't do; it’s always best to follow up before giving such promises

Appearance Etiquette

Preparing for her first client meeting, Krytsal understood how important appearance was, as that's the first impression you give. Krystal came to the understanding that appearance is no longer about fashion, but it is part of the communication, as it speaks volumes about your professionalism and commitment to the job. 

Dos

• Select a suitable dress code to suit the industry. Business formal is expected in the most conservative environment
• Having a neat appearance is important, like neatly done hair, minimal accessories, and personal hygiene. 
• First impressions are formed quickly, often within seconds, and are heavily influenced by appearance

Don’t 

• Don't go for a meeting casually; that is rude, regardless of any culture 

Workplace Etiquette 

Finally, Krystal got settled into her job, and soon she learned that her Business etiquette is not just limited to what you wear and how you attend meetings. It is much more than that; it is about how you share your desk space and conduct yourself professionally, and also related to the way others perceive you. As work is all about team play and not a one-man show. 

Dos

• Keep noise to a minimum, silence phone notifications, and take personal calls in a private space.
• Respect personal space, avoid reading documents on others' desks, or eavesdropping on conversations, which is so unprofessional
• Maintain a tidy workspace and limit distractions

Don’t

• Harassment and discrimination
• Bullying and intimidation
• Breach of confidentiality
• Use of offensive language

Communication and email etiquette 

Communication and email are the most important and key elements in an office life. For a successful career, communication is vital. Some of the Dos and Don’t one much know are:

Dos

• Let your communications be clear, and use simple language. Avoid overly complex language. 
• Use polite expressions like “please”, “thank you”, and “I appreciate” 
• Frame feedback or disagreement constructively. E.g., “I see your point, and here is  another perspective.” 
• Emails are to be drafted with care and summarize the email’s purpose. Keep it short, ideally to 50 characters
• Know when to use CC and BCC

Don’t 

• Don't interrupt others while they are expressing their thoughts.
• Try not to speak in a confrontational way
• Avoid “Reply all” chaos
• Avoid overusing CC; too many recipients can clutter inboxes and dilute responsibility.  

Fun scenarios when business etiquette goes wrong

• A junior employee intended to reply only to their manager with a simple reply, “Got it, thank you”. Accidentally hit the reply all button, and the email went to 300 people, including the CEO of the company. A classic example of business etiquette goes wrong
• A Zoom call went wrong for an employee, without realising that his camera was on, and his appearance in the meeting in his nightdress was a classic recipe for disaster. Hopefully, he gets to keep his job
• An example of cultural differences, an overenthusiastic intern who tries to give handshakes to a Japanese client, in turn, was greeted with a bow. They both stood frozen. It was a cultural shock, but always manageable. 

Key takeaways  

Business etiquette is not rocket science; that is hard for one to understand, but it is just like any other etiquette. By deliberate effort, one can master it. From appearance to personality inside, it can make all the difference in the professional world. The basic quality needed to have a quality professional life is to develop the quality of empathy, as it makes a person think things through the lens of others. Humans are abound to make mistakes, but that doesn't mean we should make mistakes. Some funny experiences like Kristal’s will help us learn more from failures. Mastering business etiquette is not about keeping rigid rules; it's about showing genuine respect for others and creating meaningful relationships. As Krytsal learned business etiquette from her small mistakes, let us also learn from our own mistakes and grow in this global world of business.