Workplace Etiquette: Knowing and Respecting the Rules for Coexistence
12 December 2012
Read by 1558 persons
Pressure to perform and the individualization of performance make the workplace a place of confrontation.
Saying hello in the morning, managing phone calls, and being punctual for meetings are basic behaviors for good group living.
Courtesy is a way of expressing self-respect.
"I'm fed up with my office neighbor filling the room with his cigarettes"; "My colleagues keep talking about football all day long, I end up losing my concentration"; "The saleswoman from the department only talks about clothes, what a conversation..." These examples of expressions that translate feelings of annoyance, anger, discomfort, dissatisfaction or disappointment are certainly familiar to you. Normally, it's a daily occurrence in all companies, to varying degrees, of course. In this shared living space that is the company, where we spend on average a third of the day, cohabitation is not always easy. Regis Monot, commercial director of Steelcase Morocco, says it clearly: "Etiquette is essential to the smooth running of the business." All the managers interviewed by La Vie éco agree. The problem is that the company is a battleground par excellence. There is, first, the opposition, inherent in the hierarchy, between managers and employees because of the increasingly high objectives. There is also competition, which is also natural, between employees themselves because of the individualization of performance. In addition to this, there are socio-cultural aspects such as team members each coming from different backgrounds and educations.
Fortunately, for a long time, the company, like any other form of social organization, has been able to remedy this. Corporate culture, group dynamics..., each company ultimately manages to create its own common code. This is because, despite the differences, there are still common and immutable bases in terms of behavior. One of the first and certainly the simplest is the small hello when arriving at the office or workshop. Samira Raïssouni, a certified coach, confirms: "Politeness must be natural. Getting into the habit of greeting your colleagues when you arrive in the morning is a small gesture that doesn't require effort and helps maintain a friendly atmosphere." A manager tells the story of an experience in his company: one of the colleagues had the unfortunate habit of entering an office to greet only the person he needed, ignoring the other colleagues. He finally understood when the same thing was done to him.
Another awkward situation is the use of informal vs. formal address. It is unnecessary to recall that the question remains complex for many. It's like the way to call people by their first name or use the terms "Mr." or "Ms."
The way you address your colleagues, male or female, and your superiors is part of the customs that you should master very quickly so as not to give a bad impression. In a small company where everyone sees each other every day, relationships can be closer and the style of exchange less formal. The opposite is true in large companies where the large number of employees leads to compartmentalization and therefore less familiarity. In this case, you should wait for the other person to suggest informal address before you risk it. Otherwise, your attitude may be perceived as contempt or disrespect.
Another important behavior: behaving well in meetings. Because these meetings are important in business life, it is essential to observe an irreproachable code of conduct. It is obvious that the first politeness is to arrive on time. During the work session, the minimum is to pay attention to the comments of colleagues and wait your turn before speaking.
But one of the main areas of personal conflict is the open space, a mode of organization that more and more companies are adopting to rationalize investments and facilitate communication. In such an environment, noises of all kinds are permanent. For example, the mobile phone can be a source of disturbance. If it is intended to remain switched on all day, certain precautions should be taken to avoid disturbing colleagues. In a meeting, for example, it is frequent to see many heads bowed over their mobile phones. "I always leave my mobile phone with my assistant to avoid being disturbed during meetings. I also invite others to do the same," says this manager.
Some companies display good rules of conduct
In the absence of awareness from everyone, it is preferable to clearly define common rules of life. Thus, to restore calm, some companies simply put up posters in designated areas to remind people not to shout, to ban conference calls in the open plan office, or to encourage employees to put their mobile phones on vibrate. Others recommend not to prolong discussions beyond a certain time, otherwise they are invited to continue the discussion away from the team in a meeting room, a coffee corner or even an isolation booth set up for this purpose. These places are essential to avoid conflicts. Unfortunately, not all companies have understood that the ergonomics of the workstation, or, by extension, of the space, is an essential condition for promoting efficiency and productivity. This sometimes results in makeshift arrangements that generate the opposite of what is desired.
"You must always keep in mind that what you do may disturb your neighbours," explains the commercial director of Steelcase Morocco. If you have to eat at your desk, you should avoid leaving leftovers lying around. In short, it is essential to make concessions to live in a group. Being courteous and caring about the comfort of others is simply a way of expressing self-respect.
Brahim Habriche.
Lavieeco.com
Posted on December 12, 2012.
Saying hello in the morning, managing phone calls, and being punctual for meetings are basic behaviors for good group living.
Courtesy is a way of expressing self-respect.
"I'm fed up with my office neighbor filling the room with his cigarettes"; "My colleagues keep talking about football all day long, I end up losing my concentration"; "The saleswoman from the department only talks about clothes, what a conversation..." These examples of expressions that translate feelings of annoyance, anger, discomfort, dissatisfaction or disappointment are certainly familiar to you. Normally, it's a daily occurrence in all companies, to varying degrees, of course. In this shared living space that is the company, where we spend on average a third of the day, cohabitation is not always easy. Regis Monot, commercial director of Steelcase Morocco, says it clearly: "Etiquette is essential to the smooth running of the business." All the managers interviewed by La Vie éco agree. The problem is that the company is a battleground par excellence. There is, first, the opposition, inherent in the hierarchy, between managers and employees because of the increasingly high objectives. There is also competition, which is also natural, between employees themselves because of the individualization of performance. In addition to this, there are socio-cultural aspects such as team members each coming from different backgrounds and educations.
Fortunately, for a long time, the company, like any other form of social organization, has been able to remedy this. Corporate culture, group dynamics..., each company ultimately manages to create its own common code. This is because, despite the differences, there are still common and immutable bases in terms of behavior. One of the first and certainly the simplest is the small hello when arriving at the office or workshop. Samira Raïssouni, a certified coach, confirms: "Politeness must be natural. Getting into the habit of greeting your colleagues when you arrive in the morning is a small gesture that doesn't require effort and helps maintain a friendly atmosphere." A manager tells the story of an experience in his company: one of the colleagues had the unfortunate habit of entering an office to greet only the person he needed, ignoring the other colleagues. He finally understood when the same thing was done to him.
Another awkward situation is the use of informal vs. formal address. It is unnecessary to recall that the question remains complex for many. It's like the way to call people by their first name or use the terms "Mr." or "Ms."
The way you address your colleagues, male or female, and your superiors is part of the customs that you should master very quickly so as not to give a bad impression. In a small company where everyone sees each other every day, relationships can be closer and the style of exchange less formal. The opposite is true in large companies where the large number of employees leads to compartmentalization and therefore less familiarity. In this case, you should wait for the other person to suggest informal address before you risk it. Otherwise, your attitude may be perceived as contempt or disrespect.
Another important behavior: behaving well in meetings. Because these meetings are important in business life, it is essential to observe an irreproachable code of conduct. It is obvious that the first politeness is to arrive on time. During the work session, the minimum is to pay attention to the comments of colleagues and wait your turn before speaking.
But one of the main areas of personal conflict is the open space, a mode of organization that more and more companies are adopting to rationalize investments and facilitate communication. In such an environment, noises of all kinds are permanent. For example, the mobile phone can be a source of disturbance. If it is intended to remain switched on all day, certain precautions should be taken to avoid disturbing colleagues. In a meeting, for example, it is frequent to see many heads bowed over their mobile phones. "I always leave my mobile phone with my assistant to avoid being disturbed during meetings. I also invite others to do the same," says this manager.
Some companies display good rules of conduct
In the absence of awareness from everyone, it is preferable to clearly define common rules of life. Thus, to restore calm, some companies simply put up posters in designated areas to remind people not to shout, to ban conference calls in the open plan office, or to encourage employees to put their mobile phones on vibrate. Others recommend not to prolong discussions beyond a certain time, otherwise they are invited to continue the discussion away from the team in a meeting room, a coffee corner or even an isolation booth set up for this purpose. These places are essential to avoid conflicts. Unfortunately, not all companies have understood that the ergonomics of the workstation, or, by extension, of the space, is an essential condition for promoting efficiency and productivity. This sometimes results in makeshift arrangements that generate the opposite of what is desired.
"You must always keep in mind that what you do may disturb your neighbours," explains the commercial director of Steelcase Morocco. If you have to eat at your desk, you should avoid leaving leftovers lying around. In short, it is essential to make concessions to live in a group. Being courteous and caring about the comfort of others is simply a way of expressing self-respect.
Brahim Habriche.
Lavieeco.com
Posted on December 12, 2012.
