Does It Matter
Do you wonder if protocol and business manners matter?
Consider your participation in groups such as a church congregation, a military unit, a civic or social club, where you are going or went to school, an association, a sports activity, or where you work. That is a diverse set of groups. Do you notice that each one has certain ways that people are expected to interact with one another?
Manners are about much more than using the right fork. They are about how we treat others, how people feel when they are around us, and the respect we give to one another.
Many of these are small things that add up to a much larger representation of our personality and professionalism.
Whether we work for someone as an employee, or if we are an entrepreneur, we relate to people who are making decisions about whether they are going to keep us as an employee, or whether they will continue to be a client, or are they going to promote us or give us a bigger role in their business.
Four Areas
They consider at least these four things:
Aptitude – do we know how to do what needs to be done?
Attitude – are we positive with the right amount of energy? Do people want to work with us?
Character – we see many examples in the news of issues here.
Personal Professional Presence – involving manners, etiquette, and protocol resulting in how we treat and respect others.
Pet Peeves
Here is an exercise to prove to yourself that this does matter.
Do you have pet peeves about different groups and the ways people get on your nerves?
Do you sometimes feel so disrespected that smoke is almost coming out your ears? Of course, you do.
I encourage you to make a list of three different groups you engage with and write down one pet peeve about each one.
For example, a pet peeve of mine is when someone, usually a male, is on his cell phone in public, pacing back in forth, talking loudly, seemingly unaware that anyone hears the conversation.
Another is when I send an email, even important ones that the recipient was expecting, and crickets! There is no reply. All I need is a “Got it. Thanks.” Should I send another message asking if the first one was received?
A third is in a crowded restaurant when someone jumps the line to save a table. That could be at a favorite bakery– coffee shop – café where you stand in line to order. I’ll be standing in line, and someone walks in and puts their stuff down on a table and then gets in line. I’ve seen people standing with their food and no place to sit while the person behind them in line who has “reserved” a table is relaxed and ordering.
How does your list look? Are you on anyone’s list?
At The Break Out Session, we’ll explore topics related to confidence, connection, and professional presence. Thanks for joining us.
