Corporate Etiquette Essay Research Paper In today

Corporate Etiquette Essay, Research Paper

In today’s corporate environment, human resources are undeniably our most valuable asset. By valuing and training our employees, we are better able to meet the needs of our clients. More and more, companies are realizing the importance of corporate etiquette in the sales environment. Customers are looking for a manner conscious sales associate with attention to detail, and a desire to be his or her best. The proper use of manners can show a client immediately what you’re made of.

According to author Lou Kennedy, “acquiring a new customer cost five times as much as keeping a current one. Exceeding customers’ expectations with your own unique value added service encourages enthusiastic and profitable referrals.” It is important for employees in a company to know how to speak the language of customer service and how to project the image of professionalism through grooming and body language. Learning techniques for dealing with upset customers, resolving conflicts and complaints, building trust and winning back unhappy customers are all part of winning and keeping customers.

“In this era of take-out food and dress-down Fridays, etiquette is making a surprising comeback. There is a growing sense that bad manners are strong evidence of – or perhaps the first step toward – societal breakdown”(Avalanche-Journal).

Last year, a U.S. News & World Report/Bozell survey found that 78 percent of Americans feel that incivility has worsened in the last 10 years. Most of the people surveyed believed incivility has contributed to violence, divided national community and eroded values”(Avalanche-Journal). With these obvious implications, it is important to recognize the need for etiquette training in the workplace.

Bookstore shelves are filled with best sellers on modern problems such as multicultural faux pas, gay etiquette and e-mail manners, not to mention the classics, such as Emily Post. “Business has never been brisker for etiquette classes. Companies are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars for seminars and workshops with names such as ‘Business Basics for Professional Polish’ and ‘Customs and Protocol for Doing Business in the Global Marketplace’ “(Avalanche Journal).

Visual Charisma is important to everyone in the corporate environment. “Negative first impressions are difficult to overcome. ‘doing what comes naturally’ may not be in your best interest. Your manners and social skills are always under examination in your professional and personal life, and these skills create lasting impressions”(Kennedy, 2). In a customer service-driven market, people will continue to do business with individuals and companies who meet their needs and do not offend them. What do others decide when they meet you. Polish your professional image and performance by using etiquette anchors that are valued and used by people who look for standards of excellence.

. Discover the details that make a difference in professional dress and image.

“The professional image that a person projects begins with the exterior packaging, extending from one’s hair to his or her shoes. In the highly competitive job market, a well-groomed person has the immediate visual advantage. One assumes that anyone who can package himself in a manner appropriate to a job position can also handle meticulous details relating to the job. People who effectively project the professional image even command higher starting salaries than those who do not”(Kennedy, 9).

To assure that you create a positive first impression, make an entrance walking with purposeful steps, begin your conversation with words of praise or thanks and make sure that your grooming is beyond reproach. “You never get a second chance to make a first impression. It takes ten to fifteen seconds to make a first impression. If you create a negative impression, it could take as many as ten additional encounters to change that opinion! Ninety-three percent of the immersion you make on others is based on what they see. The clothes you wear and how you wear them are absolutely vital to your total appearance and to the attitude you project. Until another form of communication takes place, perception is reality. Therefore, it is in your best interest to know what your picture looks like. The key to successful and appropriate dressing begins with paying attention to what the successful people in your profession wear on a regular basis. The well-groomed businessperson pays attention to details. Although you may not be able to afford the finest quality in fabrics, you can copy the styling of the garments worn by those above you. It is important to remember to dress to suit the decision makers in the company who are in control of your career advancements” (Kennedy, 9).

u The businessman’s appearance

“When it comes to clothes, people tend to judge the wearer’s status, character and abilities based on what they see. Suits are the foundation of a business wardrobe. Fabrics, fit and fashion are important to consider when investing in this business outfit.

Invest in suits appropriate to your profession – suits that have long – lasting style and can be ‘dressed up or down’ with creative accessories. Fit is critical to a suit jacket and pants. The jacket should fit comfortably across the shoulders with no pulling or wrinkles. The sleeves should han