Best Foot Forward {Dos and Don’ts of Workplace Etiquette}

What is and is not appropriate behaviour at work is best defined by your immediate bosses and superiors. In corporate culture, celebrating a birthday with balloons or streamers may be frowned upon, while in other places, opening a bottle of wine is not amiss. One must keep a keen eye on the trends set by the upper management while still being individualistic.

Dress Code

There are some corporate companies that have a strict dress code and enforce long sleeved collared shirts and dark pants or long skirts for employees. In such cases, it is relatively easy to follow the beehive trend. Problems generally occur in workplaces that may have casual work styles where one is free to wear what one likes. The ‘smart casual’ look is still the benchmark to strive for. Don’t wear flip-flops and t-shirts on a daily basis; your appearance counts for a lot in making a good impression. A sharp appearance shows confidence and self-esteem and will certainly reflect well on your appraisals in future years. Women should note that while it is fine to wear smart western clothing, in a traditional country like ours, skimpy clothing is a no-no. Opt for tailored and well-fitted clothing that looks good!

Networking or Faffing?

A break from your work is justifiable and necessary in short doses, especially in creative fields. Facebook and Twitter are important elements of any marketing field and key tools for networking. In our digitally connected world with social media options on phones and computers, it is a little too easy to lose track of time with status updates. Make sure that the time you spend online does not portray the wrong impression. Playing an online game is only acceptable if it lasts about five to 10 minutes and you play about once in a day as a breather from intensive work. Some such games can build your focus and re-energies your mind. Self-discipline is usually the issue in these cases; before you know it, you may be spending hours exchanging chickens on your farm at Farmville. Just remember that counting your chickens online may lead to an embarrassing situation, leaving you with egg on your face!

Voice Modulation

Your tone of voice and accent is important while working. Remember to be courteous and to say please and thank you wherever possible. Don’t use abusive language even if it is commonly used by seniors as it may be misinterpreted or taken out of context. When things are not going smoothly, it is all the more important to keep your cool and be calm. If your managers raise their voice at you, give them a calm, even-toned reply. If it continues, you can politely ask them to please lower their voice and maintain a professional demeanour. The same goes for those having fun – make sure that you do not disturb others with raucous laughter while taking a time-out. Finally, talking over the phone with your friends or family should be done in a quiet area away from co-workers. Chattering endlessly on the phone while at work will never reflect well on you! BBMers should also beware; other than text-cramps in your fingers, constant messaging can cause harm to your career too!

E-mail and IM

Always write e-mails in complete words and sentences while sending to colleagues or acquaintances, no matter how frivolous or urgent the task may be. Senior managers need to shoot off hundreds of emails each day, requiring speed, complex processing skills and excellent communication. Large companies even test the speed with which one can write a formal letter while hiring employees. The same holds true for organisations that use instant messenger for communicating with each other. Don’t use shortcuts and acronyms that you may use informally with your friends; write in complete words with punctuation.

Body Language

According to communications expert, John Borg, over 93 per cent of human communication takes place non-verbally. Take some cues from our Neanderthal ancestors who communicated in grunts and gestures rather than words; the way you say something is far more important than the content of what is said. Eye movement, facial expressions, body posture and gestures play subtle but important roles in establishing trust and facilitating communication.

The best body language should show that you are smart and alert with a straight back and neck. Slouching is never a good thing, especially when at work. Also, ensure that you do not invade someone else’s space, make defensive or aggressive gestures, and that your emotions are under control. Understand how to interpret body language by buying a book on the subject. Reading body language can help you understand behavioural cues as well as maintain personal and professional relationships.

Follow these basic tips for workplace etiquette to ensure that you make a good impression at work! Ensure that you invest time learning more about the dos and don’ts of workplace behaviour.