Four rules for good business behaviour
I have a colleague who has three basic rules for good business behaviour , he says
1. Do what you say you will do
2. Say please and thank you
3. Turn up on time.
Preamble
Aspiring business people may feel, to be seen as enterprising, they have to bully people. If you reflect on some of the truly wealthy people you know, most don’t behave so rudely. They require performance from the people with whom they deal, but they aren’t rude nor need to terrorise to get it.
1. Do what you say you will do
As a rule for business behaviour this can be confronting. If you know you can’t or don’t want to act, don’t say you will.
Sometimes, to save face, or to appear more obliging and perhaps to avoid feeling guilty, we may say yes. If you really aren’t going to do it, avoid saying you will. Otherwise you may be seen as untrustworthy.
2. Say please and thank you
Rather obvious, isn’t it. If this is automatic for you, thank your parents for raising you to demonstrate this courtesy.
Every now and then, after sending off an email, I have an awful thought that maybe I didn’t say please. Generally when I check, I had done so, as this becomes an ingrained action. Even so, there may be people in your office, who feel it is not be necessary to say please and thank you in business communications. Remind them to show courtesy always.
3. Turn up on time
Guilty here. I know it’s rude and try to avoid doing it. Generally it occurs when I am trying to fit too much during a day.
A last minute telephone call or email may delay departure. To avoid these, get away from the office 10 minutes before necessary, then use the extra time at the other end, to focus and further prepare for the meeting.
4. Close your mouth when you eat
This is my fourth basic rule. Once, I was chatting with a young woman during a morning tea break. She was chewing an apple, talking away as she chomped, and then started spitting bits of apple at me!
I was extremely annoyed. I expect she did not understand what she was doing. I quickly moved away from her, perhaps I left the impression I was being rude. Should I have been honest and made some comment to her about the way she was eating? It is a very personal matter and I would have had difficulty mentioning it.
Conclusion
Develop your own rules for good business practice and abide by them. Some people need training to understand good business behaviour. Whatever you and your people do, can reflect upon your business.
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