Business Etiquette

Course Summary

If you’ve ever had an awkward moment where:

• You aren’t sure which fork to use,

• You don’t know which side plate is yours,

• You’ve ever had to make small talk with a Very Important Person and been lost for words…

Then you know just how agonising such moments can be. Even worse (and what can be even more damaging to your career) are the social gaffes you aren’t even aware you make. This course will help you handle most of those socially difficult moments.

What Students Learn

• Effective networking, including making introductions, shaking hands, and using business cards appropriately

• How to dress appropriately for every business occasion

• How to feel comfortable when dining in business and formal situations

• How to feel more confident of your business communication in every situation

• That extra edge that establishes trust and credibility

What Topics Are Covered

• Business etiquette basics

• The handshake

• Business card etiquette

• The skill of making small talk

• Do you remember names?

• Making that great first impression

• Dress for success

• Business dining

• E-mail and telephone etiquette

Course Outline

Business Etiquette Basics

To begin, participants will explore what etiquette is all about and what role manners play.

Test Your Business Etiquette

As a pre-assignment, participants were asked come up with at least five examples of etiquette that they see at work or at home. During this session, we will review their examples; be prepared for some debate!

The Handshake

During the important first few minutes of a new relationship, a handshake is usually the only physical contact between two people. In this session, we will discuss and demonstrate the five factors of a good handshake.

Business Card Etiquette

The exchange of business cards is a common ritual when meeting a new person. We will discuss some things to keep in mind when giving and receiving business cards.

The Skill Of Making Small Talk

Being able to small-talk successfully is one of the most crucial skills a businessperson can develop, but it’s also one of the hardest. We’ll discuss some basic do’s and don’t’s of small talk.