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Ditch The Rudeness
If you lose your temper with the waiter at
your next business lunch, you also may lose a
prospective client, a new survey suggests.
Half of advertising and marketing executives
polled said being impolite to the wait staff is
the single biggest blunder a professional can
make during a lunch meeting. Showing up late
ranked second.
The survey was developed by The Creative Group,
a specialized staffing service.
"Displaying poor manners when interacting with
the wait staff -- or anyone -- during a business
meeting will prompt prospective clients and
business partners to question whether they and
their staff members will be treated the same,"
says Tracey Turner, executive director of The
Creative Group. "Showing up late is a similar
sign of disrespect."
Survey participants said displaying poor table
manners and dressing too casually also ranked as
top unprofessional blunders.
Rudeness isn't confined to lunches. In 2002, the
nonprofit organization Public Agenda conducted a
survey called "Aggravating Circumstances: A
Status Report on Rudeness in America."
Unfortunately, businesses got reamed for
rudeness toward customers.
A whopping 81 percent of survey respondents said
too many stores force customers to wait for
service. A full 77 percent said that is was
common for sales people to act like “the
customer is not even there.”
What You Can Do
Mind your P’s & Q’s. Whether you’re
courting a prospective client or interacting
with customers, using tiptop business etiquette
can make you shine. Here are some tips:
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If you’re new to
being a business owner, polish your social
skills. Take a seminar or workshop to brush
up on etiquette. You’ll gain confidence as you
learn how to professionally handle
introductions, table manners, small talk and
other pleasantries.
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Train your
employees. Be specific about what
constitutes politeness and how that translates
into customer service. Teach employees how to
properly greet customers—on the floor and on the
phone.
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Be punctual.
It conveys respect. Return phone calls on time.
Answer e-mails promptly. Arrive 10 minutes early
for business meetings or lunches.
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Just because you
work at home in your favorite faded jeans
doesn’t mean they’re appropriate attire for the
next chamber of commerce meeting. You can
dress casually yet look professional—and command
respect for doing so.
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Get more training
on business etiquette. Check out the free
Success Skill Seminar “Mind
Your Manners”.
Topics include:
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Put Your Best Foot
Forward
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Reclaim The Business
Lunch
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Can We Talk?
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Electronic Etiquette
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Networking Social
Graces
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Dress for Success or
Comfort?
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International
Etiquette
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