Business etiquette and culture

The norms of behavior that exist today have evolved over a very long time, and in the modern world they are important both in political and cultural communication. Having collected all these rules together, it can be noted that in order to show respect for the interlocutor, you will have to impose some restrictions on yourself.

The word "etiquette" came to us from the French language, and in translation means "demeanor". Modern etiquette includes all the rules of politeness and good manners that are accepted in every cultural community.

Etiquette is divided into several types, for example:

• the set of rules and culture of behavior established under monarchs is called court etiquette;
• the set of rules for officials, which are used during business meetings or negotiations, is called diplomatic etiquette;
• clearly regulated rules and norms of behavior for people working in the military sphere are called military etiquette;
• the forms of behavior, rules and traditions that citizens must observe during a conversation are called civic etiquette.

For people who are related to the business sphere, the main secret to achieving success is the ability to solve matters during a meal.

Formal meetings are divided into several types. By the time they are held, they are divided into daytime and evening ones, they can be carried out with or without seating. There are a number of types of techniques, each of which has specific features and rules of conduct.

• Reception called "Glass of Champagne"is the easiest way to take it. According to professional ethics, its average duration is 60 minutes, the beginning of the meeting is usually around 12:00.
• "Glass of wine" is very similar to the above technique, but in this case the meeting is of a special character - more serious things are discussed in a closer, confidential circle.
• Breakfast is a widespread type of official meeting. This does not mean that the reception should be scheduled in the morning - breakfast is usually invited at 12: 30-13: 00. The menu is chosen based on national preferences. The first half hour is spent on coffee or tea, then about 60 minutes - directly on the meal.

• Duration of reception "Cocktail" averages 2 hours. The appointment is between 5:00 pm and 6:00 pm. Throughout the reception, the waiters serve drinks and small sandwiches, usually canapés. A meal with hot dishes is not excluded.
• Lunch is especially honorable. Such a reception is organized strictly at 20: 00–20: 30. Lunch lasts for more than 2-3 hours, so you cannot schedule it later than 21: 00.
• Reception "A la fourchette" organized at the same time as the "Cocktail". "A la buffet" means set tables with hot dishes and various snacks. The invitees can choose their favorite snacks from the table and leave, so that other participants in the reception have the opportunity to come to the table. The main table, intended for important guests, should be positioned so that the invitees do not have their backs to it. People don't sit at such receptions, the whole event is held exclusively while standing. If the reason for the reception is a national event, or it is hosted in honor of a guest of honor, then a movie screening or a small concert is appropriate at the end.

Below is a basic set of rules for men and women, which should be strictly adhered to in any public place during official events.

• The most honorable place is on the right, so a man must give it up to a woman, and go to the left himself. This rule does not apply to men in military uniform, as he can interfere with his companion, saluting civil servants with his right hand. If there are two women next to a man, he must walk between them. If one of the fairer sex is much older, you should go to the left of her.
• According to moral standards, if a man sees off women, then, having stopped a taxi, you must first open the back door of the car for them, and sit in the front seat yourself. If the lady is alone, then the man should sit in the back seat next to her.
• The fairer sex is the first to enter the room, followed by a man. However, if there is a large heavy door ahead, then a representative of the stronger sex must enter first. Climbing the stairs, the man goes 1-2 steps lower than the woman, and going down, on the contrary, the lady goes a couple of steps behind.
• At the entrance to the theater or cinema, the companion must walk in front, but directly in the hall, the man is the first.
• The appointment is made by a representative of the stronger sex, but the appointment of a date by a woman is permissible.

To succeed in any craft and in any organization, each person must have patience, self-regulation, correctness and endurance. All these factors help to create a business atmosphere in society, as well as to ensure role balance in the work team. Based on this, every boss and every subordinate should learn some rules that will help build good relationships in the workplace.

• The attitude of the boss towards all subordinates should be the same. You cannot show sympathy for one and antipathy for another. Employees must be treated impartially.
• The manager must evenly distribute responsibilities among all employees. Powers should also be clearly delineated, not based on the principles and personal relationship of the manager to the subordinate.
• The leader must always monitor how his assignment is being carried out, no matter how much he trusts his subordinate. One must be able to correctly combine a fair distribution of work with constant supervision. However, “standing over the soul” of an employee or constantly reminding about one task is also not worth it.

• A boss's serious attitude towards employees is often diluted with humor and a positive attitude, but you need to be very careful with jokes. Constant jokes in the office will completely eradicate discipline. You can't joke about the older generation, they can take it as disrespect.
• During a meeting with employees, the manager must know in advance what he will talk about. You should always be ready to amend your conversation plan based on the information that the subordinate will provide.
• The meeting between the leader and the subordinate should be scheduled in a place where nothing will distract them during the conversation.
• During a dialogue with an employee, you should discuss all the work that he performed, and not a certain part of it.
• The manager should devote employees to their plans for the next three months, as well as analyze the past three. It is imperative to comment on the current work, to speak out about which task the employee coped well with and which one needs improvement.
• It is necessary to reach agreement in everything - so the employee will feel the obligation to fulfill the assignment given to him.

The rules are as follows:

• The negotiator must have a clear goal. It is worth setting up negotiations only when both parties know what exactly they want to see as a result of the conversation. If there is no goal, then during a dialogue with a client or partners it will be difficult to figure out what you need to stand on until the end, and what you can refuse.
• The terms of the agreement must be studied before signing the documents and agreeing on positions. This point is ignored by many people. It is imperative to read the paper and delve into what is written there. If some points are not fully understood, you should first clarify them, and only then sign. You need to familiarize yourself with incomprehensible terms in advance.
• Ambiguity in negotiations is strictly prohibited. Any moment of the agreement must be disclosed in detail in order to avoid different interpretations of the same provisions.
• Record and document everything. If you have reached some kind of agreement, its provisions must be written down. It is recommended at the end to fully formulate the point of view of the opposite side in your own words, so that it confirms everything, or refutes individual points, indicating a misunderstanding.

• Friends are the hardest to negotiate with. Remember, in business, friendship should be secondary. When negotiating with loved ones, you need to be very careful, because in such situations there is a lot of misunderstanding, which can cause future conflicts. Also, do not infringe on your interests, even if there is a friend in front of you.
• Sometimes it’s worth giving in.Defending your position is right, but sometimes you need to give in, because the earth is round, and you can meet your counterpart again in the future. Therefore, in order to maintain productivity, it is best to yield where appropriate.
• You need to answer for the words. This is the main aspect when negotiating. Ethical norms say: both parties must strictly follow the agreement reached, no matter whether the agreement was secured with signatures and a seal or limited to a handshake. A person who breaks promises will easily bury his reputation.

A conflict of interest implies that an employee's performance of a job assignment is complicated by the fact that it will harm him personally, his close relatives or friends. In such cases, the employee is obliged to report the conflict of interest to the manager, who, in turn, is obliged to delegate the execution of such a task to someone else, so as not to force the subordinate to choose between professional reputation and peace of mind.

The initiator of the conflict is a person who comes out with grievances or demands against his interlocutor, expressing his dissatisfaction. No person will like it if they are accused of something, therefore, he will fight back. Therefore, the initiator of the conflict should be treated fairly, without violating the laws of behavioral etiquette.

• Don't take the conflict to a critical level by expanding on the reason the other person is unhappy. The person who creates the conflict must always follow this rule. It is forbidden to find fault and insult. This can cause the parties to forget the essence of the conflict and get bogged down in accusations.
• On the verge of a conflict, you should formulate your claim positively. Before presenting it, it is advised to weigh all possible options for the outcome of the negotiations.
• During negotiations, you need to be emotionally restrained. You should monitor your tone during communication so as not to provoke conflict or aggravate it.
• During a conflict, it is forbidden to touch upon personal topics and self-esteem of the interlocutor. Job claims should not spill over into personal insult.

What you need to know:

• During communication, you need to be able to listen without interrupting and correctly understanding the meaning of what the interlocutor said.
• You must be able to competently express your thoughts in group communication or in public.
• All people should have good relations, no matter whether it is a leader or a subordinate.
• During communication, you need to find common ground between you and your interlocutor.
• A person whose vocabulary is at the proper level will never tire his interlocutor.
• The words should be pronounced calmly and pleasantly. A negotiator should have good diction without an accent.
• The manner of speaking is key. Get rid of slang, swear words, and parasitic words to make a good impression on your interlocutor.

See the next video for even more information on the culture of a business person.