Social graces for the workplace

Pamela Eyring, owner and director of a protocol school, has tips for new and long-time workers who might want to brush up on the ways of the workplace:

Dress: When people dress too casually, they tend to behave more casually. Wearing inappropriate clothing at work could sabotage a career.

Telephone etiquette: When leaving a message, state your first and last name, company, time, date, quick purpose of your call, and telephone number. Refrain from leaving too much detail on the recording--you could get cut off. Personal cellphones are considered rude and annoying when the ring tone is on and interrupting business. Keep them on vibrate to avoid disrupting meetings or your colleagues.

E-mails: People receive hundreds of e-mails a week. State a clear purpose in the subject line. Keep content focused and to the point. When receiving an e-mail that has been sent out to a group, do not “respond to all” to share your thanks. Greetings: A firm, web-to-web handshake is appreciated and considered a favorable impression. Avoid the bone-crusher, limp-fish and double-clasp handshakes. Business cards: Attending a meeting or networking event without a business card gives the impression that you are not prepared. Keep business cards protected in a business-card holder, and stock up before you attend.

Eye contact: One way to judge someone's sincerity is by eye contact. Is he listening? Is she interested? Keep eyes focused on the area between the eyes without looking at a person's nose or lips.

Civility: Be considerate and polite to your colleagues, not just to executives. You never know who'll be your boss someday.

Sensitivity to other cultures: Embrace other cultures and their customs. You will build stronger work relationships with your international peers and clients. Introductions: When introducing a junior executive to a senior executive, say the senior executive's name first. Dining: No one enjoys eating with a person who doesn't have good dining skills. Follow your host's lead. If the host sits down at the table, you sit down. When the host begins to eat, you begin to eat. In order not to snag your boss's dinner roll, remember “BMW”' 'B' is for bread, which is always on the left of your plate. 'M' is for meal, your dinner plate. And 'W' is for water, on your right side.

— LA Times-Washington Post