Communication Etiquette in Business: Dos and Don’ts
Poor workplace etiquette can ruin an employee’s reputation with coworkers and their manager. Imagine working with someone who’s consistently late for meetings, dresses inappropriately, has a messy workspace, lacks professionalism, and conducts personal business during work hours.
Even if an employee is proficient in their job role, if they have poor workplace etiquette, it’ll negatively impact those around them and make day-to-day interactions challenging. Unfortunately for managers, workplace etiquette isn’t a quality highlighted on most resumes, and it can be difficult to gauge during the screening and interviewing process.
The term “communication etiquette” refers to the accepted methods of workplace communication and the appropriate tone and style that professionals use when interacting. Those who are already employed or looking for a new job should learn about communication etiquette in the workplace and how to implement it. A business writing certificate program, for example, can help develop essential communication skills that are valuable in any industry.
What’s Workplace Etiquette?
The term “workplace etiquette” refers to an employee’s behavior and conduct. It’s not a hard skill, such as writing code or performing analysis on large datasets. A person’s workplace etiquette is demonstrated by their behavior, how they interact with people, how they present themselves, their style of communication, and other soft skills and nuanced elements.
When demonstrating good workplace etiquette, an employee:
- Dresses in a clean, professional manner
- Maintains a tidy workspace
- Is on time for meetings and appointments
- Avoids social media, personal conversations, and other distractions during work hours
- Shows respect to their coworkers
- Gives credit to the individuals who deserve it
- Adheres to business ethics and the workplace code of conduct
- Remains professional, even when under duress
- Uses active listening and professional interpersonal communication
- Is mindful and respectful of their coworkers’ cultural differences
- Is engaged and an active participant during collaboration sessions
Workplace Communication Etiquette Defined
Effective communicators in the workplace are vital to an organization’s day-to-day operations. For example, managers must effectively communicate employee expectations, what tasks must be done, and when those tasks are due. A breakdown in communication can result in projects falling behind or a workforce that’s uncertain about what’s expected.
By comparison, effective communication keeps everyone on the same page, an agreement that facilitates meeting goals and objectives. In other words, great communication mitigates miscommunication.
Communication etiquette is a category that falls under the umbrella of workplace etiquette and comprises the behaviors and conduct that a person demonstrates when communicating with others. They include face-to-face interactions, emails, text messages, phone calls, and video chats. When evaluating the qualities of communication etiquette, remember that it’s not what you say but how you say it.
Best Practices of Workplace Communication Etiquette
Employees who take the time to evaluate how they communicate and implement the best practices of etiquette will create more productive and meaningful interactions with coworkers, leaving them with a positive impression.
Refer to the following tips for developing and demonstrating communication etiquette:
- Always arrive at meetings on time; this communicates to everyone involved that their time and the agenda are respected. Employees who arrive late to a meeting should provide an explanation, such as a previous meeting with a client running past the scheduled end time.
- Be as concise as possible. Excessively long emails tend to overshadow the essential information, so try to be brief while remaining thorough.
- Always maintain professionalism when communicating with coworkers and clients. Although some business relationships can feel informal after building a healthy amount of rapport, steer clear of using vulgarities, coarse language, or nonverbal gestures that can be construed as rude or offensive. Even if the other person seems to not mind that type of interaction, others may feel differently.
- Refrain from and discourage spreading rumors and gossip. Sometimes the personal life of an employee becomes a topic of conversation around the office, making them feel self-conscious, embarrassed, or otherwise uncomfortable. A big part of communication etiquette is knowing what types of conversations not to participate in, such as gossipy conversations.
- Adjust communication methods to suit the audience. Some individuals may prefer face-to-face interaction while others may prefer to have all their communications emailed, so they can have a paper trail for later. Employees using the best practices of communication etiquette should try to be accommodating of individual preferences.
- Keep distractions to a minimum. Although it’s always tempting to multitask, employees should refrain from checking emails and texts or engaging in side chats during meetings and conversations. Remaining free of distractions ensures that employees are engaged and attentive.
- When emailing, always be mindful of spelling, grammar, and tone. Emails are official company communications; this means that employees should verbally communicate in a way that demonstrates their professionalism and attention to detail.
Develop the Skills of an Effective Business Leader
Communication etiquette in the workplace is an essential competency for those who wish to foster positive relationships with coworkers and clients. By implementing the tenets of communication etiquette, employees avoid miscommunications, demonstrate professionalism, and garner a favorable opinion from those they interact with.
Those who wish to develop communication etiquette and business writing skills should explore their educational options, such as the Business Ethics & Writing certificate program from the Suffolk Center for Continuing & Professional Education. Held in an online classroom format, this eight-week course teaches essential competencies pertaining to business ethics, writing, critical decision-making, and other skills that can be applied in a professional environment.
Learn more about the certificate program so that you can see how it can help develop you into a business leader with an ethical perspective that coworkers and clients value.
Recommended Readings
Ethical Dilemmas in Business and How to Address Them
Why Is Ethical Business Communication Important?
Business Communication: Skills and Strategies
Sources:
CareerAddict, “15 Examples of Bad Workplace Etiquette”
Grammarly, “Why All Teams Need Business Communication Etiquette”
HubSpot, “5 Types of Business Etiquette”
Indeed, “10 Tips for Communication Etiquette in the Workplace”
Indeed, “13 Essential Tips to Follow for Proper Etiquette at Work”
LinkedIn, “Workplace Etiquette: Tips for Beginners and Professionals”
SafetySkills, Proper Business Communication Etiquette in the Workplace