Helpful Tips

The following are some great tips for every time you dine in a business setting. Using them even in everyday life show you have proper etiquette and take into consideration the people you meet.

Introductions:

Sometimes overlooked, these can be a big deal! When you bring someone with you to a function, he or she may feel uncomfortable diving into conversations. Worse, his or her feelings may be hurt because you've forgotten about them.

Just a small "Hi, have you met my friend/associate, Jane?" can do the trick and help everyone feel more comfortable.

Customarily, you should introduce the higher ranked person first, regardless of gender. However, if this does not apply, you should introduce the person you are with to the person you've come across. You should repeat each person's name as many times as appropriate so they are easier remembered. For example: "Hi, John, have you met my friend, Jane? Jane, this is my associate John from work. John is the smartest accountant I know. Jane, you should ask John about it since you're majoring in accounting." Also introducing a topic your associates have in common can help break the ice.

Image: http://www.entrepreneur.com/dbimages/article/h0/is-your-introduction-ready.jpg

RSVP's:


http://www.corrosionconnection.com/tips-wedding-rsvp-wording-for-your-wedding-invitation/wedding-rsvp-card-wording/

When you are invited to a meeting or a function related to business, you should always RSVP as soon as you can. Responding to an invitation quickly lets your host know that you care about the event. If you cannot make it, you don't have to go into details. Just decline respectfully, although this may not be the case for a business meeting as they're usually mandatory!



In General:

Although sometimes we hate to admit it, we judge people by our impressions of them. Therefore, we realize those people also judge us. Because of this knowledge, we should always be aware of how we present ourself. Being polite, having good posture, and conducting ourselves in a respectable way can have a huge impact on how others perceive us. We always want to leave a good impression in order to get the job, make the sale, gain a new position, add another name to our network, and all together show what kind of people we are!

Don't forget to take our quiz in the sidebar to test your new knowledge!

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Thanks to Peggy Post's "10 Etiquette Mistakes You Didn't Know You're Making" and Mercedes Alfaro's "Business Dining Etiquette: Where Business and Social Skills Meet."