Beauty

All kinds of rules of conduct accompany us everywhere — both in the business environment and in everyday life. By not following these rules, you can put yourself in a very uncomfortable position. People around you will form a negative impression of you, which can affect relationships with your loved ones, colleagues and partners. In a business relationship, your bad image can affect the conclusion of a major contract, so it is especially important to discuss such a topic as business etiquette.

What is business etiquette

The system of professional relations requires organization and order. Relations between colleagues and partners are regulated by business etiquette, which forms the norms of behavior of employees in the process of work.

All moral and ethical norms accepted in society constitute ethics and are concretized in the form of rules, codes and laws of behavior (etiquette).

Etiquette is everyday, guest, diplomatic, military, business, etc. Business etiquette, like all other types, consists of rules, knowledge of which is required to achieve success in a particular field of activity.

Compliance with the norms of business etiquette will allow a person to achieve respect among colleagues and strengthen his authority among partners. Both the business and personal qualities of a person will be revealed to others from the best side, if the right words, gestures, postures and other forms of non-verbal communication are used correctly and appropriately.

In general, a person’s business etiquette:

1. helps to form a positive image;
2. positively influences the outcome of negotiations and meetings;
3. insures a person during awkward and force majeure situations;
4. allows you to most successfully and quickly achieve the chosen goal.

Failure to comply with etiquette will lead to future losses in business. Entrepreneurs who neglect etiquette will not be able to stay in a competitive market for a long time.

Business etiquette, in addition to the traditional manners, politeness and culture in etiquette, also requires punctuality, rigor and precise execution.

Business etiquette is based on the culture of people’s behavior in a corporate environment. Here are some general principles to follow.

1. Politeness

All communication with colleagues, partners and clients should be built on goodwill and friendliness. A smile always accompanies a successful businessman, and his courtesy directly affects the profit of the enterprise as a result of good and stable relationships with partners and customers. Unbalance and irritability in business are inappropriate.

2. Correctness

Sometimes you have to deal with dishonest contractors. In such cases, etiquette requires you to suppress emotions and not let them control your behavior. Willpower will help to protect yourself from rash acts.

3. Tact

When dealing with people, a sense of tact is essential. Being tactful when talking with a person, avoiding unwanted topics means setting the interlocutor to a positive outcome of the dialogue.

4. Delicacy

Speech during communication should be smooth, moderately ornate and flexible. Compliments are encouraged by etiquette, as long as they do not cross the line between sincerity and flattery.

5. Modesty

An educated person knows how to behave modestly. This is especially appreciated in business relationships, where modesty is perceived as a positive quality. A modest professional is balanced, harmonious and reliable, so he deserves trust.

6. obligatory

The responsible employee will fulfill the obligations assumed or ordinary promises on time. The commitment of a person is always appreciated by his immediate superiors, and colleagues, and business partners. If a person is obligatory and able to assess his capabilities, then he is also inclined to analysis, forecasting, and competent planning.

Basic rules of business etiquette

• Time is worth money

In the business world, time is precious, so it’s important to manage your time properly and respect someone else’s. Punctuality and competent time management form the basis of all relationships in business. People who are constantly late for meetings, make them spend other people’s time waiting for them, and mismanage their own time will not be effective employees and partners. Even a true professional in his field and a first-class speaker in the absence of punctuality is unlikely to gain trust and respect.

Both partners, and colleagues, and bosses will understand: in front of them is a person who is unreliable and does not value time. His constant excuses in this case will only aggravate the situation.

A simple conclusion follows from this. Mastering the basics of time management in business is essential. The ability to plan your own working day, distribute tasks by importance and urgency, assign routine tasks to others and subsequently control their execution — this is what a business person should strive for.

• business gestures

This topic should be devoted to at least a book with vivid illustrations. The facial expressions and gestures of a person, his manners can tell more about a person than words. By the way a person moves, his environment will judge him. The gait of a successful person is confident and devoid of unnecessary sweeping movements. All movements, in turn, should be energetic, without fuss. A business person should have a straight posture and a confident look.

Business etiquette allows only one gesture of touching another person — a handshake. All other tactile gestures (hugs, pats, kisses) are possible only between close friends, relatives and long-term partners with many years of experience in cooperation. The handshake should be firm but gentle. On the one hand, a sluggish, cold or wet hand from excitement during a handshake is not welcome. On the other hand, squeezing your hand tightly and shaking it for a long time is also not acceptable.

Controlling your own gestures and facial expressions is much more difficult than choosing the right words when communicating. And the sincerity and strength of a person’s character are determined primarily by his non-verbal signs.

• Desktop as a reflection of character

If everything is laid out in places on a person’s table, then order reigns in his head. The truth is old, but not losing its accuracy and relevance. It is on the employee’s desktop that you can determine how well and efficiently he works. For example, here are descriptions of typical desktops:

1. a table chaotically littered with papers and covered with untouched dust;
2. absolutely clean table without unnecessary things;
3. an abundance of photographs of relatives and friends, souvenirs, flower vases and other personal items on the table;
4. piles of papers and folders neat and strictly arranged on the table.

Which of the owners of these tables will be most valuable to the employer?

• Competent speech and business writing style

The speech of a successful business person is devoid of «water», parasitic words and unnecessary lyrical digressions. She is even intonation, without antics and parody in her voice. All thoughts expressed are strictly to the point.

Having worked out oratorical skills, a person will learn how to write business letters. When writing formal letters, it is important not to overdo it with style — the lifeless, dry writing language will make it boring, making you want to throw the letter in the trash without reading it to the end.

• Respect for partners, colleagues and clients

Selfishness is out of place in any community, and the business community is no exception. A person who thinks only of himself and does not consider the interests of others will not enjoy respect. An employee closes the door in front of the very nose of the last client at the end of the working day, a colleague is talking loudly on the phone in the office and disturbs the rest, the boss scolds his subordinate in a boorish way — all these are examples of the lack of business etiquette, an integral part of which is respect for others.

• Compliance with trade secrets

Almost any commercial company has information, the disclosure of which employees is unacceptable. In light of this, the Soviet poster of 1941 «Don’t Talk» (author — Nina Vatolina) becomes relevant again. It would fit perfectly into the office interiors of most organizations.

The management is interested in immediately conveying to all employees the order on non-disclosure of trade secrets and collecting signatures from each member of the team. Of course, this will not guarantee the safety of sensitive data in secret. However, this measure will be part of business etiquette and an indicator of unreliable employees.

• Need to work in the workplace

If you statistically evaluate the average working day of an average office, you get a rather depressing picture. It turns out that about 80% of the working time is spent by employees on conversations on abstract topics, tea parties, smoke breaks, social networks and other personal matters. Only 20% of the time is devoted directly to work tasks.

Valuable employees who perform their duties most of the working time achieve career growth as a result. This is one of the secrets of success.

• Ability to listen to the interlocutor

The ability to hear and listen to an opponent in the business world is a valuable gift that brings great profit. In business circles, this gift was even given a name: «rumor for money.» Each client, colleague and partner always has something to tell about their problems or ideas. You need to have the ability to listen to everyone, understand him and offer something in return. This skill is also valued because it saves time, the most valuable resource in business.

• telephone etiquette

Telephone communication remains one of the main ways of negotiating, and telephone and business etiquette is also important in this matter. It helps in the shortest possible time to establish relations and come to a positive result of the negotiations. Often, it is by telephone communication that they judge the reliability of a company.

A telephone conversation requires advance preparation. All questions that will be asked to the interlocutor are prepared in advance, all names, contact details, dates and dates are determined and specified.

Do not use your work phone for personal purposes unless absolutely necessary. A person who neglects this rule gives the impression of a frivolous employee.

• Network etiquette («netiquet»)

The Internet has already fully fit into the system of business relationships. Any modern enterprise or organization in one way or another uses Internet channels for communication. And the business qualities of a company employee are determined, among other things, by knowledge of the etiquette of business correspondence, by the ability to comment on business articles and by the ability to competently process customer messages on the company’s website.

At a minimum, each letter or appeal must be addressed to a specific person and signed with the name of the author. The letters must contain the full contact details of the company, including the postal address, phone number, contact details in social networks and instant messengers, the address of the corporate website, and the company’s work schedule.

• Competent reception of delegations

The ability to receive a delegation according to protocol is a special section of modern business etiquette. The protocol is a long list of actions in the process of meeting, accommodating, introducing members of the delegation, their acquaintance with the host country. Volumetric specialized books are devoted to the rules of presenting gifts and souvenirs, behavior at a buffet table, holding presentations.

If the delegation is foreign, then in addition to protocol requirements, national business etiquette must also be observed.

• Conducting business negotiations

The ability to competently conduct negotiations with the obligatory achievement of the desired result is an important component of business communication etiquette. For successful negotiations, you need to set goals in advance, draw up a specific plan, and decide on a time and place that is convenient for both parties.

The goal of the first stage of negotiations is to capture the attention of the opposite side and establish trusting relationships. Each step in the negotiation process should be recorded and the results of the negotiation should be analyzed. The event ends after the achievement of the set goals.

• Building relationships between superiors and subordinates

Business etiquette requires the leader to treat his subordinates equally. There must be some distance between the boss and the subordinate. All comments must be made face to face. Public censure is possible only in cases where the employee ignored the once voiced remark.

Orders, orders and current tasks should be issued to subordinates in the most clear, specific form. At the same time, it is necessary to provide feedback from employees in order to effectively evaluate and control the execution of instructions.

It is necessary to give subordinates the opportunity to discuss the orders issued by the boss. This right to vote allows joint efforts to improve the solution of specific issues.

• Building relationships between team members

Relations between colleagues largely determine the overall microclimate in the team. At the heart of a healthy atmosphere in the team are goodwill and respect for each other. If one of the colleagues stumbled and made a mistake, there is no need to publicly denounce him. Instead, it is etiquette to correctly point out mistakes, offering help if necessary.

All manifestations of mobbing, intolerance and hatred towards each other, as well as the establishment of romantic and other relationships that are not related to work, are unacceptable and will interfere with this work.

• Dress code compliance

As you know, a person is greeted by clothes. In the world of business, the first impression of a person is also formed by his appearance, the components of which are a foldable business suit, a neat hairstyle, and accessories that are in harmony with the clothes. In appearance, both the status of a person and his inner world are determined. Not only speech and behavior, but also clothing, hairstyle and accessories can provide comprehensive information about a person. The inner protest of the individual, the unwillingness to live according to the laws of society is reflected in a provocative and defiant appearance. Etiquette does not support this.

It is not for nothing that the corporate standards of the dress code of many large organizations are allocated a separate section in the sales book. If there is no explicit dress code in the organization, it is enough to adhere to the norms and unspoken rules adopted in the business environment.

How business etiquette and image are interconnected

Different people treat etiquette in different ways. At all times, this depended on the moral and ethical education, the moral development of the individual. The moral needs of a person include a moral attitude towards oneself and towards other people.

A person’s attitude to etiquette directly affects the attractiveness of his image: the better a person knows the norms of etiquette and the more often he uses them in life, the more attractive his image is.

1. The image itself is unstable. It changes dynamically, in accordance with which its main attributes are transformed.
2. The image must instantly respond to the economic, psychological and social changes taking place in society, adjusting to new conditions.
3. The image must be believed — this is its main goal. To do this, it must be realistic and correspond to reality.

Image as a complex formation consists of many elements. If a reputation is acquired for a long time and with difficulty, then it can be lost almost instantly. The reason for the loss of a positive image can be any trifle — missing an important call or not responding to a letter on time, a person can lose confidence forever, being known as ill-mannered and not punctual.

Many things influence the attractiveness of the image: the culture of speech and manner of speaking, the style of clothing and the interior of the office. A person with bad taste can never boast of charm. He will not make a pleasant impression on others.

In order to make a first impression, you should first think about clothes and accessories.

• Business etiquette clothing

Business attire is a mandatory attribute of business etiquette. Conservative and independent of fashion, this style has not changed significantly over the past two centuries. In terms of color schemes, fabrics and accessories used, business style is closest to the classic style of clothing.

Clothing for business is characterized by rigor, simplicity, restraint and elegance. The style does not accept bright colors and diverse shades. Common color combinations: white and black, pale blue and gray, shades of beige and brown. These clothes are functional, most convenient for work and at the same time outwardly respectable. In order for clothes to retain their shape for a long time, only expensive materials and fabrics should be used.

The most commonly used set is a black jacket, black trousers or skirt and a white shirt. This kit can be used both during conferences and presentations, and in everyday work. Some companies, however, regulate their own dress code: a gray suit and a white or blue shirt.

• Women’s accessories in business etiquette

The first impression of the status of a woman is created by three components of the female image: by the bag, by the shoes and by the watch. These accessories practically form the image of a successful business woman, so special attention is paid to their selection, and significant funds are spent on their purchase.

If we talk about women’s bags, then comparing them all with each other is a laborious and meaningless task. However, some nuances are still worth knowing: which part of the accessory is most subject to wear, which elements are indicators of the quality of the bag, and which, on the contrary, use optical illusion. The best way to evaluate the quality of a bag is to test it directly in your hands, visually and tactilely examining every corner of it.

First of all, from the point of view of the etiquette of a business woman, a bag should not be:

1. soft (no frame) and too small;
2. in the form of a backpack or a hiking bag;
3. in the form of a massive portfolio;
4. “decorated” with scuffs and scratches;
5. in the form of a plastic bag;
6. too pretentiously decorated;
7. without fasteners;
8. synthetic or fabric.

Women’s bag is the hallmark of any business woman. A woman’s bag is able to tell everything about her mistress — from habits to lifestyle. In all public places, a fashionable woman attracts attention primarily with clothes and a handbag.

Having begun to evaluate a woman by clothes, an inquisitive person then switches his attention to a handbag. It is the handbag that is used most often by a woman, and therefore it is immediately noticeable. It stores all the important things for a woman that you need to carry with you.

A business bag for a woman should be comfortable and practical. In the business world, classic models of neutral colors are preferred, but there is no need to limit yourself to the discreet color scheme that is characteristic of a strict business style. Bright cheerful colors are quite acceptable, which will add confidence to a stylish female look.

A business woman should have at least two options for bags — summer and winter. In the summer version, sand-colored and coffee-with-milk bags look best. Pure white options are easier to get dirty.

For winter bags, the colors of eggplant, ripe cherries and red wine, as well as black and brown, can be used. A winter bag should be chosen according to the tones of outerwear.

It should be borne in mind that the red shades on the leather product and on the textile will be visually different. Generally speaking, there should not be a lot of red in the guise of a business woman. If there is a red bag, there can only be one element of red color. Combinations of a red bag and red gloves, as well as a bag and a red headdress, will look perfect. But the bag + boots set should be treated with caution — etiquette recommends using this combination only in the warm season.

A women’s business bag does not tolerate being next to a plastic bag, so its capacity should be sufficient to eliminate the need for a bag. When choosing a bag, you must first of all be able to fit all the necessary everyday things in it: a cosmetic bag, a smartphone, an umbrella, a wallet, documents, etc.

For different situations, a business woman will need several bags of various sizes — from a large bag for carrying documents to an elegant envelope bag with a long strap.

Rectangular and trapezoidal bag models with a reliable stable bottom will look advantageous. It is also allowed to have two bags with you for different purposes — for example, a large one for papers and a miniature lady’s bag.

• Men’s accessories in business etiquette

Being an everyday accessory, a men’s bag made of genuine leather is also a great gift for men of any occupation.

For carrying documents or a tablet computer, businessmen can recommend a leather briefcase or a leather bag with handles. These are neat, light and at the same time roomy accessories.

For an emphatically respectable image for business meetings, you can take a bag for documents of a well-known brand. Good budget options are the Brialdi men’s leather bag with two handles from the Atlanta collection.

For larger items, such as a laptop or thick folders with documents, it is better to use bags with a shoulder strap. Among budget models, you can choose Brialdi Ancona.

Brialdi Norfolk works well as a travel bag for business trips.

Where to buy a business bag made of genuine leather

The highest quality of BRIALDI is the result of many successive operations, the first of which is the selection of material. Only 10% of the leather produced worldwide meets our requirements, and not all of it is honored to become the basis for our products. Only the highest quality raw materials, carefully selected by our specialists, are worthy of turning into a BRIALDI bag. But first, the skin is cut, doubled, leveled, glued, sanded, sanded and re-sanded and dyed.

Our policy towards employees is also aimed at creating bags of the highest quality. They are not limited in time and are not required to issue a certain number of products per week. We do not strive to do as much as possible — we want each bag to be the result of thoughtful and painstaking work, with special attention to detail, without which a high-end product is unthinkable.

And further:

Men’s business bags made of genuine leather in our catalog