Business Etiquette

Audience:

This class is beneficial to everyone.

Prerequisites:

None

Description:

If you’ve ever had an awkward moment where...

You aren’t sure which fork to use, you’ve ever had to make small talk with a very important person and been lost for words, or you continually get emails from colleagues who have hit “reply all” and the topic doesn’t concern you or your role then you know just how agonizing these moments can be. Even worse (and what can be even more damaging to your career) are the social gaffes you aren’t even aware that you make.  This one-day workshop will help you handle most of those socially difficult moments. You’ll have an extra edge in areas that you may not have given a lot of thought to until now.

Course Objectives:

This one-day workshop teaches participants to:

• Network effectively, including making introductions, shaking hands, and using business cards appropriately
• Dress appropriately for every business occasion
• Feel comfortable when dining in business and formal situations
• Feel more confident about your business communication in every situation
• Develop that extra edge to establish trust and credibility

Outline:

Lesson 1: Course Overview

You will spend the first part of the day getting to know participants and discussing what will take place during the workshop. Students will also have an opportunity to identify their personal learning objectives.

Lesson 2: Business Etiquette Basics

To begin, participants will explore what etiquette is all about and what role manners play.

Lesson 3: Test Your Business Etiquette

As a pre-assignment, participants were asked come up with at least five examples of etiquette that they see at work or at home. During this session, we will review their examples; be prepared for some debate!

Lesson 4: The Handshake

During the important first few minutes of a new relationship, a handshake is usually the only physical contact between two people. In this session, we will discuss and demonstrate the five factors of a good handshake. We will also discuss germ-free alternatives to the handshake in a post-pandemic work place.

Lesson 5: Business Card Etiquette

The exchange of business cards is a common ritual when meeting a new person. We will discuss some things to keep in mind when giving and receiving business cards as well as how to create a digital business card.

Lesson 6: The Skill of Making Small Talk

Being able to small-talk successfully is one of the most crucial skills a businessperson can develop, but it’s also one of the hardest. We’ll discuss some basic do’s and don’ts of small talk.

Lesson 7: Do You Remember Names?

There are four keys to remembering names. In this session, we will discuss and practice each of them.

Lesson 8: Making that Great First Impression

During this session, we will discuss some ways that participants can make sure their first impression is perfect.

Lesson 9: Dress for Success

It’s always difficult to know just how to dress, particularly if you’re meeting new people. We will cover some basic guidelines and details of particular dress codes using gender neutral ideas.

Lesson 10: Business Dining

This session will focus on the do’s and don’t’s of business lunches.

Lesson 11: E-mail and Telephone Etiquette

How a businessperson presents themselves over the phone and via e-mail is just as important as their in-person impression. We’ll discuss some key points of telephone and e-mail etiquette in both a small group and a large group setting. We’ll also discuss how what you post on social media can affect your career.

Lesson 12: Etiquette for Open Offices and Shared Spaces

Employers are using the more cost effective open office format and with many employees working remotely it is easier to use shared spaces rather than individual offices. We will discuss how to maneuver the specifics of those office parameters through scenario discussions.

Lesson 13: Workshop Wrap-Up

At the end of the day, students will have an opportunity to ask questions and fill out an action plan.