10 Work Etiquettes That Are More Than Manners

Work etiquette is a work skill that is often ignored by most. In todays time where etiquette and manners are old fashion, I am here sharing with you business etiquettes because they truly matter. It is much more than basic manners but a way to conduct yourself at work, a work ethics and builds a professional look that is respected and key to career advancement and success at work.

Dress Modestly

How you dress speaks before you do. You don’t need fancy brands, but you do need to dress modestly and appropriately. Every office has a different dress code. Some may have a professional outfit dress code whereas others may be fine with business casual. You must dress based on your role, work need and approved dress code to show respect at workplace. At the minimum you must wear clothes that are neat, clean, and not too revealing. Your work outfit must make you feel comfortable and confident.
I have detailed post on work outfit ideas that will help you pick the best outfit.
Choose colors that will look classy and professional, here are color combination to wear at work.
Dressing modestly is not about being boring but being stylish and showing respect for the space you are in and the people you work with.
P.S. To be stylish and still look professional at work, you can read Professional Office Work Outfits for Women and 10 Classy Office Wear Accessories for Women

Have Professional Virtual Presence

These days, your virtual image is just as important as how you show up in person. Over the years. I have been an introvert and would never put a photo on my profile and just add bare minimum details. But once at a corporate lunch there came a conversation about how some profiles build an impression, and it got me thinking that in this global working era our virtual presence is equivalent to someone meeting us.

Here are some basic etiquettes that you can follow to build a trustworthy but genuine virtual presence.

Start with a professional profile photo; if you do not have one, it’s worth spending time to click one, even with a phone. Go for a clean background and headshot, not like a boring passport photo, but maybe at an angle, with a confident and polite look. Never put selfies or vacation or party photos.

Add a professional email signature. Most companies have a format that you can follow; if not, I have a post on Email Signature 101 that will help you make an email signature. Anywhere you need to use personal email, do not use one with no nicknames or funny words; they look very unclassy.

Make a professional-looking LinkedIn profile and share your experiences and achievements or relevant stories.

Even though your social media, like Instagram or Facebook, is personal, like, avoid posting things that can look rude or offensive; most people now a days look at these, and it’s a reflection of you.

Some people use cool and quirky display names like “Boss Lady,” etc.; these do not look good, and you should put your real name. These names are visible and often necessary to address the person during virtual meetings.

Also, during meetings or when busy, update your status to available after meetings to let people know the right time to reach you.

The ways you communicate also build your virtual image, it is discussed in detailed in next section.

Never Skip Email Etiquette

Email etiquettes can get tricky at times. Not just when addressing conflicts but also at times the casual one. Some people prefer to keep things casual and prefer talking over phone instead on email. I have even seen a few people getting offended with emails and like to take talk offline, so such I think is a red flag. I mean its fine to keep things casual but there is no harm in getting things in black and white. So you need to understand the workplace environment to and act accordingly.

For the basics,

Start with a polite greeting. “Hi [Name],” or “Good morning,” sets a friendly tone. Always write in full sentences and check for typos.
Use a clear subject line so the person knows what to expect. At the same time subjects become useful to search mails later.
Be direct but kind in your message. Say “please” and “thank you.” Keep your tone warm, not robotic or bossy.
And end the email by signing off professionally, with “Best regards,” or “Thanks,” followed by your name.

Apart from basics here are few more things that you must consider.

If you’re upset, don’t hit send right away. Write the email and walk away, come back with a clear head read it again and now rewrite it facts and diplomatic judgement.
Don’t sounded too harsh, messy, or careless.
Avoid using emojis, exclamation marks everywhere, or writing in all caps.
To emphasize a point you can choose a different color like blue but avoid red, it feels like shouting.
Get clear understanding from your supervisor which emails, they should be looped. Adding many people in cc, especially supervisors may be viewed as escalation and create unwanted tension. But when required don’t hesitate but be kind and professional in the language.

Conduct Yourself Professionally

One key thing to remember at work is to stay professional; there are no friends at work. It helps you build trust, keep things smooth at work, and avoid unnecessary drama.

Work etiquette isn’t just limited to the words you say and the way you dress but extends to the way you conduct yourself.

The first thing to avoid is to keep yourself out of gossip. Even the harmless talk, because you never know what words can spread around, and talking about coworkers behind their backs can damage your reputation fast. If you hear or witness something, just keep it to yourself; there’s no need to spread the words. Show respect for people’s privacy.

At the same time, to keep yourself out of trouble, it’s best to draw personal boundaries. The company of people you hang with at work can reflect on you too, so if you don’t want to be with them or need to work on something and cannot be with them to have a coffee, you must say no.

Also, you don’t have to share every detail of your life. A little small talk is fine, but save deeper conversations for trusted friends outside work. You can be friendly with coworkers, but keep the talk out of work gossip or personal life; you can talk about movies, books, or current world events; there are many options.

At times of personal issues in life, try not to bring the emotional weight into your day-to-day tasks or let people see that.

And finally, avoid using work time to scroll social media, vent about home life, or overshare. If you conduct yourself well at work, you will be viewed and treated as a valuable, trusted professional.

Maintain Your Cubicle

Your cubicle is your personal workspace and reflects you. Keeping it clean and organized shows respect for the workspace and that you value your job and the people around you. I feel reliable and get a trustworthy vibe when I go to someone’s desk and their cubicle is clean and, in some cases, decorated.

Clean your desk regularly and keep papers organized; it helps you work better and also makes a good impression.

Respect others around by not talking loudly on the phone or having loud self-talk; it can distract others. During the start of my career, my cubicle was next to a girl who was such a chatterbox it used to disturb me, and worse, if she had a bad work day or was dealing with difficulty, she would be hyper and talking loudly. It used to make me feel very uncomfortable.

Also, make sure your desk doesn’t smell of food or smelly shoes. Keep some air freshener on the desk or near the working space.

Lastly, respect others privacy; don’t peek into their screen or stand behind and listen to conversations.

Add some motivational quotes or inspiring images to your desk to make it more inspiring.

You must read my post on work desk makeover ideas to make it more inspiring.

Be Responsible of Shared Resources

At the workplace we need to be respectful of the shared spaces and resources; things like the printer, scanner, pantry, and meeting rooms are for everyone and need to be used with care.

Simple habits can take you a long way.

If you use the printer, don’t leave a mess behind. Pick up all your papers, clear out jams if you can, and replace paper if the tray is empty. These simple things do not make you small but make people like you and respect you for being helpful.

In the pantry, wipe the counter if you spill something. Don’t leave your coffee cup in the sink for someone else to wash. Share things if there is just a last pack of cookies.

Something as basic as keeping the back of your chair straight or erasing the whiteboard after a meeting shows you care about your workspace.

Being responsible with shared resources shows, and extending nature to share with others makes you look like a good team player whose company others enjoy.

Acknowledge Support

No one succeeds alone, so anytime you get an opportunity, take a moment to thank the people who help you. Whether it’s a teammate who stayed late, someone who shared a great idea, or your supervisor who backed you up in a meeting.

When you are appreciated, make sure to share credit with anyone who deserves it and worked with you. Giving credit doesn’t take anything away from you. In fact, it shows you’re confident, thoughtful, and a real team player.

Follow Remote Call Etiquette

Remote calls are part of everyday work now; at times it gets so annoying when some people do not have basic manners when attending a work call. Being on a remote call is not just about how you show up on screen but also about how you conduct yourself throughout the call.

Here are some basic to it better experience for everyone.

Make sure to attend the call 5 min early so that you have time to check about the camera and mic and you are not struggling with connectivity. Use your real name as your display name, and turn your camera on when expected.
When you keep your camera on, make sure your background is clean and distraction-free. Sit in a well-lit spot where your face is clearly visible.
Dress appropriately, and adjust your camera angle to avoid getting uncomfortable.Mute yourself during the call when not speaking to avoid background noise.
Don’t interrupt others, and wait for your turn to speak.
Avoid typing loudly or doing other work while someone else is talking. If you would like to do something while listening to the call, turn your camera off.
If you have to present your screen during the call, just ensure you have files open and ready and any other files are closed to avoid accidents.

Small habits like these will make virtual communication smoother and more respectful for everyone.

Be Professional in Meetings

One of the most important points where I find workplace etiquette missing is at meetings. Meetings are critical places where decisions happen and everyone shares their inputs. But over the years, I have observed that meetings have just lost their purpose. Often they are just like official catch-ups or turn into uncomfortable arguments and fights. And I just hate when people just come to meetings unprepared and clueless.

Here are a few ways that you can not look like a fool at meetings.

Look up at the meeting agenda beforehand and be prepared for it.Be on time and be respectful of other people’s time.
Be an active participant in the meeting by listening to others suggestions and sharing your suggestion. Let everyone share their view and avoid interrupting.
And most importantly, if you disagree, be polite while sharing and keep the conversation constructive.
Take notes, and make action points of things you need to work on. Take clear ownership.

These professional etiquettes in meetings build trust and show you take your work seriously.

Be Kind And Respectful

Kindness and respect never go out of fashion. People remember how you made them feel more than what you said. Just the most basic thing like saying “please” and “thank you” can make the environment at work positive. Don’t restrict the kindness to colleagues but even the supporting staff and work serve equal respect.
Simple things like greeting people with a smile, holding the door; show that you value the people around you.
Extent genuine support to people and try to overlook their mistake by extending helping hand instead of blaming.

Even if you are under stress or having tough conversation, be mindful of your words. A calm tone and kind attitude will make you stand tall.

Hope these basic yet powerful work etiquette will help you build a powerful, professional look at work and help you advance in your career.

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