Business Etiquette

THE LAY-OFF THREAT

The world is living on hope- that the recession will take a beating soon. However, it is important to keep our heads above water while we are still in the midst of the recession. In the economic chaos prevailing in the world, many employees will lose their jobs. Unfortunately, you could be one of them. Depending upon your industry, the strength of your company, your continued sales (or lack thereof), your employment role, and the decisions made by government officials, the threat of a layoff could be imminent.

Don’t bury your head in the sand and hope all of the potential threats to your job and career will disappear. They won’t. Smart employees adapt themselves to the difficult situations and stay on even in companies that are not recession proof. Lay-offs are imminent for anybody today. So what strategies are you going to employ to keep the lay-off threat at bay?

First and foremost you must evaluate your contribution and prospects and assess the viability of your employer. Companies don’t lay off or let go their best performers. But, company managers have to know who you are. For high visibility at work, you want to be viewed as a great performer. High visibility for your positive contributions is a must.  Do you think not being noticed will keep your job safe? Think again. The reality is that you want to be noticed for your positive contributions.

The best strategy now is to figure out how you can have high visibility at work. One way of doing this is by sending mails to all concerned persons on a regular basis and sending replies to incoming mails will make those who sit at a distance believe that you are active / proactive. Whenever you have completed your target, or a task assigned to you, send a note about what the task entailed, the challenges, how you worked out a strategy and how efficiently you have accomplished the task, the money accrued due to your contribution or the time and money saved etc.  Take initiative and learn extra skills that you do not have in order to expand your knowledge as well as contribution at work. It is true that a person with more skills will survive in our crazy job market.

Are you and indispensable employee?

One strategy for keeping your job is to be an essential, even crucial, employee. Never wait to be told what to do. Know what to do. Take on responsibility, even when you're not asked. Position yourself as the employee your organization can't live without.

Have significant knowledge about your organization. Position yourself as the go-to person who knows the history of the company, customers, and business. Bring to the table the total company perspective about how various departments and functions interact. You know the goals and the thinking behind decisions.

Make sure your employer can't replace you for the same or less money. This doesn’t mean that you keep critical information to yourself. Equip yourself with skills no one else in the department has. Be the go-to person for fixing the copier, proofreading memos, making spreadsheets, anything and everything. You know the strengths and weaknesses of employees and can ward off disasters with this knowledge. You are up-to-date about whom to approach with any questions or concerns.

Based on your knowledge, you bring significant insight into decisions and direction. The valued go-to person shares information and willingly trains other employees despite the fact that this may mean less job security.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

D for Difficult

Let’s all face the truth. Difficult people do exist at work. Difficult people come in every variety and no workplace is without them. How difficult a person is for you to deal with depends on your self-esteem, your self-confidence and your professional courage. Dealing with difficult people is easier when the person is just generally obnoxious or when the behavior affects more than one person. Dealing with difficult people is much tougher when they are attacking you or undermining your professional contribution.

Different Colours

Difficult people come in every conceivable variety. Some talk constantly and never listen. Others must always have the last word. Some coworkers fail to keep commitments. Others criticize anything that they did not create. Difficult coworkers compete with you for power, privilege and the spotlight; some go way too far in courting the boss’s positive opinion – to your diminishment.

Some coworkers attempt to undermine you and you constantly feel as if you need to watch your back. Your boss plays favorites and the favored party lords it over you; people form cliques and leave you out. Difficult people and situations exist in every work place. They all have one thing in common. You must address them. No matter the type of difficult situation in which you find yourself, dealing with difficult people or situations is a must.

Why You Must Deal With Difficult People

Trust me. Your situation won’t get better; left unaddressed, it usually gets worse. Unaddressed, the conflict simmers just below – and often erupts counterproductively above – the surface at work.

Initially, people go into shock when they are treated unprofessionally, so if you take some time to understand exactly what is happening to you, you are not alone. Once you are fully aware of what is happening, deciding to live with the situation long term is not an option. You become so angry and feel so much pain that your efforts to address the situation become irrational. It’s far better to address the difficult person while you can maintain some objectivity and emotional control.

Constant complaining about the coworker or situation can quickly earn you the title of whiner or complainer. Managers wonder why you are unable to solve your own problems – even if the manager’s tolerance or encouragement of the situation is part of the problem.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DRESSING FOR WORK AND INTERVIEWS

Choosing clothing for work can be difficult if your organization does not have a dress code or your job requires you to wear a uniform. There are industry standards and unwritten dress codes for certain professions or situations. For e.g. we would expect  accountants and bankers to wear a navy blue suit or doctors to wear sober shirts with a white lab coat. Or you would expect all members attending a conference to turn out in a formal coat and suit attire, preferably black with a white shirt worn inside.

If there is no dress code or a typical style of dress, you end up in a quandary wondering what to wear for work.  And if your company allows casual attire, it complicates the matter further. You would not know how do you keep from crossing over the line from casual to sloppy?

For job interviews, you want to look your professional best, but you also want to appear as if you "fit in". So what do you do?

Here are a few tips that will help you decide on your ‘style statement’ for work.

DRESSED TO KILL?

If you are a perky young person who has set about conquering the world, I am sure you would feel indignant if you are discouraged from wearing bring colours, hair clips and sleeveless tops. Or imagine your embarrassment if you are sent home from a meeting because you wore open-toed shoes. There are organizations headed by a young team leader with a whole lot of energetic and vivacious youngsters working together such as in a media or advertising enterprise on in FM/ TV channels where there is no dress code at all and you can choose from your most coveted outfits in the wardrobe. Even then, if you want to be dressed to kill everyday, it is going to be confusing. So it makes sense to define your own style statement and also wear what you think is appropriate to reflect your status or post in an organization.

The flip side of the dress code coin is just as confusing:  companies with no discernable dress code. In these environments where anything goes the chaos of not knowing what to wear is as bad as the by-the-book companies that spell everything out.

Business Like

25-year-old Shilpa, a marketing professional, works for a company with everything spelled out, complete with outdated sketches of approved outfits and a laundry list of no-nos. While she understands the importance of looking professional, some of the rules chafe, especially the necessity of always wearing a jacket.

But the consequences of not following the dress code to the letter have made their impact. Shilpa found out the hard way that it wasn't just her boss watching what she was wearing: One of her clients complained about to her superiors because she wasn't wearing a suit during a meeting.

Pooja who is an executive assistant in a premier bank says her dress code is just as strict. "Skirt length must be to the knee. Navy blue suits and white shirts preferable. Heals should not be over 2 inches." Although some of her company's rules seem ridiculous she says having a spelled-out dress codes makes it much easier: "You don't spend all morning guessing what to wear."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Food for Thought

One may think that food has no role to play in the corporate world. But the fact is that food is an elemental factor in everyone's life. The corporate world is no exception. Unfortunately, we miss a lot of opportunities when we treat food as a mere distraction, rather than as a very integral opportunity for communication and relationships- the very fabric of business.

Presenting and sharing food with someone is a very basic and generous gesture. When you provide a high-quality food experience for someone, you promote a feeling of comfort and care. This drives home the point,  “ This company or this person feeds me," literally as well as metaphorically. The quality of the food and the presentation of it will sub-consciously, but very powerfully, promote a positive atmosphere.

Food is very effective in project kickoffs and status meetings, sales meetings, motivational meetings, informational presentations, and training sessions. Any time you particularly want or need to motivate or positively influence people, remember to feed the crowd and watch the satisfied glow on the face of the participants.

Food can be served in any setting except the actual signings of papers and contracts. In any meetings where actual paperwork tasks are being performed, food should be in the background. It can be served very neatly on a side table, but all food items should be cleared before actual signing or handling of paper takes place. It's very important that the person leading the meeting work closely with the caterer or chef to ensure that things go smoothly.

Food has the power to affect the outcome of a business situation. The smells and aromas of a comforting menu can dispel antagonism of participants who are temperamental, especially if you are about to clinch an important deal and you have to contend with a cantankerous head of your client’s company! And if you have done your homework well, you would astutely serve the choicest food of this person or a menu with items from his homeland! This can help add a personal touch and you will not be surprised if the concerned person launches into details of his family and personal life. Remember, food and aromas are very evocative of past memories and emotions.

Needless to say, the deal will be closed favorably, and your clients and bosses too will be very pleased.
Food can be used to create favorable environments and situations for the objectives you're trying to accomplish?

By arranging tables tactfully a lot can be achieved. Sometimes, heads of departments would feel uncomfortable if they are seated among others in the organizations. Seating arrangements can be subtly made by placing such people a little away from the others and yet give the impression that they are a part of the larger group. In case you come to know that certain  people would like to be together, you can arrange tables to place people belonging to such groups without causing embarrassment. Many a time some issues are discussed discretely and such people would like to sit together and whisper amongst themselves. You may even find couples who would like to sit together. Add a touch of romance on their table and watch their surprise! Dining experiences can allow you  to diplomatically arrange an opportunity to have the conversation with your client. Chefs and caterers can be very adept and creating environments and situations that can be very helpful.