The standards of office etiquette have changed. All over the world, companies are evolving the culture of professionalism as they adopt new technologies and inventive ways to be productive. Technology has changed the way we interact, and can intermingle the casual with the professional—and rather uncomfortably at that. With the new normal, these lines blur even more so. 

The rules are no longer as clear as they were, but at the end of the day it usually all boils down to one thing: manners. Every business etiquette course revolves primarily around this one subject, so we can’t deny that knowing how to conduct yourself around others is important. 

As they say, manners make the man. In the same way, manners can make a company. Here are a few examples of how managers can conduct themselves in the office to command respect and garner appreciation at the same time.

Make sure everyone around you is comfortable.

Etiquette, first and foremost, is about making sure that everyone around you feels comfortable. It can be as simple as acknowledging when someone enters a room or steering the conversation when you notice that you or someone else is monopolizing it. Give someone your full attention if it should be on them, and make sure to remove all your distractions.

Being polite can also be as basic as personal hygiene. Your overall appearance and aura must be, at the very least, clean. Pay attention to your breath and your scent, and make sure to dress and groom appropriately. 

If it’s not constructive or warranted, don’t say it.

The office is about work, and for whatever reason, you might sometimes have to critique someone’s work to help it become better. When on the receiving of a pitch, for example, it is perfectly appropriate to ask questions about difficulties an endeavor might face, or have concerns about the aesthetics of a certain design. 

Anything outside this is more complicated. A person may feel badly about being told how to do their job. Another instance where criticism might be unwelcome is about a person’s appearance. As a rule of thumb: if they can’t fix it in five minutes, it’s best not to comment on it at all. 

Be classy and considerate.

No matter the setting, try to keep your language as clean as possible. While humor and levity are good ways to diffuse tension in the workplace—and an essential part of human interactions—they can also distract and hurt someone’s feelings if they’re not used to playful banter. Being considerate can also mean making sure everyone gets their fair share.

Clear and concise communication is also immensely important, as any missteps in communication can have unexpected and costly results. Make sure to listen as much as you speak, and encourage the same of your staff. Be open to criticism and be willing to receive input. 

Respect others’ time.

It goes without saying that you should always be punctual and even early if possible, but respecting others’ time goes beyond going to meetings on time. It could mean respecting that they don’t want to talk about work on their break and avoiding communicating outside work hours and during vacation time.

You will be far more appreciated as a boss if you allow your staff to enjoy a healthy work-life balance. It also helps if you recognize your limitations when it comes to your health. Pushing yourself to work while you’re sick will only make your staff feel like they have to work when they’re feeling ill. It’s also probably best not to bring an infectious disease into your workplace, one that can knock everyone out of commission.

Make room for imperfection.

Human interaction is complicated. It is a constant negotiation of boundaries similar to a tug-of-war between everyone involved. Not every human interaction is positive—it is impossible. Providing nothing discriminatory has occurred, it is good to allow your staff to be, well, human, and to recognize that you are as well. Humans make mistakes, and for a community to flourish, we must be willing to forgive and admit error. This can only make the workplace better and more conducive to productivity.

Nothing is better for team building than being comfortable with each other, and having a good system for dealing with mistakes can help your staff relax and deal with them more constructively. 

Conclusion

Etiquette is a skill, just like any other—one that must be updated and constantly relearned, since the standards are always evolving. Adhering to a standard of office etiquette can make interactions run more smoothly, and therefore make your company a better and more productive place to work. 

To understand more about business etiquette, catch a business etiquette online course with us at Skill Builder Pro. Browse through our array of online courses!