Business etiquette is essentially about building relationships with colleagues, clients or customers. In
business world, it is these people that can influence your success or failure. Etiquette, and in particular business etiquette, is simply a means of maximising your business potential by presenting yourself favourably.Business meetings are one arena in which poor etiquette can have negative effects. By improving your business meeting etiquette you automatically improve your chances of success. Comfort, trust, attentiveness and clear communication are examples of positive results of demonstrating good etiquette.
The article will focus on a few key examples of business meeting etiquette for both formal and informal business meetings. Although these are meant as guides to etiquette in UK they are very much applicable to other nations too.
Informal Meetings
Informal meetings are generally more relaxed affairs and may not necessarily take place in office or meeting room. Even so a sense of professionalism and good business etiquette are still required.
There are 7 points to consider with informal meetings:
•Business etiquette demands that person calling meeting (henceforth ‘the chair’) should be most senior or one with most direct or urgent interest in topic at hand. •The chair should decide time, place and agenda. These details should be confirmed with everyone to make sure all are in agreement and no inconvenience is caused. •The chair must make purpose of meeting clear to attendees, how long it will last and what is expected of them, i.e. particular information or preparation of documents. Failing to relay proper information is bad business etiquette as it could cause embarrassment. •Punctuality is a must. Keeping people waiting is considered height of poor etiquette as it abuses their time. •The chair should strive to ensure meeting stays within a set framework or agenda so that it is kept as short and effective as possible. He/she must keep circular disagreements and like to a minimum. •The chair should (pre-)appoint someone to record proceedings; documenting major decisions or action points. This can later be distributed to attendees for reference. •If results of meeting have an effect on others who were not present it is considered proper business etiquette to inform them.
