Workplace Etiquette: 22 Do's For 2022

Although our business experiences have changed drastically over the past few years, manners still matter. When working in an office or any professional setting — even a virtual one — how you present yourself and interact with those around you reflects who you are as a person and as a member of the team, which can directly influence the course of your career. Traditional workplace etiquette has not changed in some ways, yet has been updated in others.        

Here are 22 “Do’s” for 2022 that illustrate the importance of manners in everyday work culture.

 

1. Be respectful to your coworkers. Choose your language carefully and avoid being sarcastic or glib. It is okay to disagree; it’s how you do it that matters.
2. Communicate clearly and succinctly in emails. Avoid using all caps, as that can be interpreted as yelling. Judiciously use emojis and multiple exclamation points.
3. Be cognizant of sharing stories/personal details with coworkers. Having personal conversations can be distracting and interpreted as gossip.
4. Manage your stress and emotions when working remotely. Firstly feeling isolated is common when working from home. Therefore, positive, empowering work atmospheres are both advantageous to an organization’s success and employees’ psychological well-being.
5. Ask questions. Be curious. If you need clarification, inquire. This may prevent confusion and help clarify projects, ultimately leading to success.
6. Arrive early or on time to meetings, including virtual calls. Acknowledge and apologize if you are late.
7. Be willing to help a coworker.
8. Be flexible. Go with the flow and try to always present positive solutions.
9. Manage your personal brand. Know what you want to be known for and strive for behaviors that exemplify that.
10. Create proper personal email addresses for yourself in case they are occasionally used in your work setting.
11. Be aware of your appearance on virtual platforms. For example, if you’re on a call where everyone is eating lunch, don’t speak with your mouth full.
12. Dress appropriately for in-office or virtual settings. Virtual work dress codes are more relaxed than office rules. Yet, being too casual can be interpreted as sloppy.
13. Mute your microphone when you are not speaking on virtual platforms.
14. Be cognizant of the virtual backgrounds you choose. Sometimes, the technology-generated backgrounds can make you look fuzzy to the viewer. Additionally, declutter the background or use a solid screen.
15. On virtual calls, look into the screen and be engaged. Body language is hard to read on the virtual platforms, yet hand gestures and expressions are appropriate.
16. Research and be prepared. Take five minutes before any meeting to open any emails, files, presentations, or links you need.
17. Try to avoid multitasking during web meetings, and give colleagues your undivided attention. Not only is this respectful, but it is also more productive.
18. Respond to inbound text messages quickly. For business, between 90 seconds and the end of business day is acceptable to respond.
19. Make texts clear and conversational. Make sure you identify yourself the first time a text is sent. Aim for clarity with business communications; that means excluding text abbreviations from your messaging.
20. Be humble, yet confident, in your work. Read up on industry standards and best business practices related to the goals of your job.
21. Be patient. We all learn at different paces. Working from home has been an adjustment for many.
22. Smile. A smile will help people feel welcome, especially in a virtual meeting. Thus building trust is essential, and a smile is welcoming.

  Sometimes, it takes trial and error to determine what is acceptable and valued in a workplace. Etiquette may be subtle, yet it is everywhere. Manners still matter.              

Source: https://www.lifescienceleader.com/doc/workplace-etiquette-do-s-for-0001

Author: SUSAN MALECHA, PHARMD, MBA, is a certified etiquette consultant and currently the senior director, medical affairs, at Puma Biotechnology