Is there someone you know on the job that always holds the door open, says thanks, listens intently, talks politely, and is generally what you’d refer to as reasonably well-mannered? Does this sound like you?
Most of us like to think that we demonstrate the right etiquette skills in our personal and professional life, but what about our digital business etiquette?
By digital business etiquette I mean everything to do with how you answer the phone and send an email to interacting on social media portals.
Yes, there is such a thing as “email etiquette” and “twitter etiquette” and they’re becoming more and more important lately (especially in the corporate environment) as a post in the Atlanta Business Chronicle reveals:
To help you avoid career-limiting mistakes, here are some do’s and don’ts:
• Send personalized recommendation requests. Rather than sending a generic request for recommendation to all your LinkedIn contacts, focus on members of your network who can speak most knowledgeably about your skills. Write a personalized note explaining why you value that person’s endorsement. The more effort you put into crafting a gracious request, the more thought people will put into their testimonials. Afterward, express your appreciation and offer to return the favor.
• Reciprocate. Tending to your online network should be an ongoing priority, not an activity you participate in only when you need something. Frequently asking for introductions and recommendations but rarely obliging others won’t take you very far.
• Post polished content. If you’re using your Facebook or Twitter accounts for business purposes, think strategically about every piece of information you share. Don’t post empty updates about your lunch or personal photos. Instead, highlight your professional knowledge by sharing thoughts on industry trends and developments, link to insightful news articles, or retweet pertinent posts from others in the field.
• Keep complaints to yourself. Have a bad day at work and tempted to tell the world? Think twice before venting. Going public with job-related gripes and groans is a recipe for disaster. The same is true of off-color jokes, gossip, inappropriate photos and controversial comments about touchy topics, such as politics and religion.
• Minimize multitasking. There’s no denying that smartphones can enable workers to boost their efficiency and productivity. But there’s not yet an app for good manners. Thumb-typing during meetings or one-on-one conversations tells people that you’re distracted and disinterested in what they’re saying. If you’re expecting an urgent call or think you’ll need to respond to an important text message, make that known at the start of a discussion. And go out of your way to apologize if you need to excuse yourself.
Displaying proper digital etiquette on and off the job is essential. An etiquette class in enhancing your techo-communication skills can really help you and your employees understand how to use digital technology in the workplace and especially when interacting with important clients.
Learn more about how our exclusive techno-communications skills course can help train your employees with the digital etiquette skills they need to stand out from the crowd.
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