Thu, April 23, 2009 - 7:00:38

Mind Your Manners

If you’ve read our New York Times bestseller, The Power of Nice, then you already know how we feel.  But if you haven’t, you better listen up, because there’s one small detail you can’t afford to overlook in today’s corporate world, it pays to be nice.  According to this article in The Economist, rudeness is out, manners are in, and the little details suddenly matter. 

Practicing proper etiquette in business isn’t just for mavericks anymore.  It’s gone main stream and that’s no accident.  With businesses struggling to get (and keep) clients, companies are finally learning that common courtesy is an essential factor in the success of your business.  From hand writing a thank you note, to arriving on time, to asking about a client’s child by name, these small acts of politeness have helped our agency grow from a tiny upstart to one of America’s fastest growing ad agencies. 

But, you don’t have to be a CEO or a Wall Street type to use etiquette to your advantage.  Professionals in any field will discover that these exercises in the power of small can help you to form valuable relationships with your peers, mentors, and potential customers.  In fact, the small polite gestures you make on a daily basis can help to differentiate you from the crowd and when incorporated into your habitual behavior can allow you to automatically make a positive impression instead of an accidental insult.

So, what small changes can you make to your current office M.O. to take part in the new politeness trend?  Here are a few of our very easy, but very effective tried-and-true tips:

Make small talk.  Before you start your next meeting, take a little time to shoot the breeze before getting down to business.  And while you’re at it…

Listen.  We know it’s tempting to check your BlackBerry every five seconds, but don’t rely on it as a social crutch.  When you’re making small talk, pay attention to what the other person is saying and make sure to remember details for another day.  When you ask them how their vacation in Florida was next time you see them, they’ll be impressed.

Hold the door. Whether you’re on your way out of a building or riding in the elevator, letting someone else catch up not only shows that you care, it gives you the opportunity to chat with them.

Say “please” and “thank you”. This last one might seem elementary, but take a minute to reflect on the last person you saw who demanded a tall latte from the barista at Starbucks.  Not uttering mom’s favorite words is not only impolite, it reflects poorly upon you.  So next time, instead of “Yeah, tall latte”, why not say, “I’ll have a tall latte, please.  Thanks!”

Unfortunately, the Economist predicts that once the economy improves, all the niceties of recession-era business will once again vanish from the workplace, but we’re hoping they’re wrong.  What do you think will happen once things get better?  Will we go back to our rude routine?

Posted by Linda and Robin