10 Business Etiquette Mistakes You Should Avoid If You Want a Promotion

Today, when you’re starting a new job, you should not only learn more about the company and ask about the dress code but also find out what etiquette rules should be followed. If you know them, you will quickly become a well-respected person among your colleagues and business partners. Here are some common mistakes people make when they don’t know the etiquette rules.

They don’t know how to answer a phone call.

The phrase, “Hello, who is it?” might sound rude. A professional always introduces themself when answering a phone call to save both their time and the other person’s. State your first and last name and tell the person you’re available to speak, or, if you’re busy, let them know you will get back to them when you’re free.

They discuss the clothes and appearance of their colleagues.

This isn’t acceptable unless it’s your job. In all other situations, it’s rude. Your job is to assess your colleague’s professional skills, and never discuss their personalities.

They use messengers to send colleagues texts with a lot of details.

Have you noticed how irritating the “typing...” status is when someone takes several minutes to type a text and you’re preparing to read a whole chapter? Messengers are supposed to be used for short texts. You can share bigger chunks of information in other ways.

They consider the break room their private space.

Even though the break room is a place where employees can relax and take a break, it’s still a place for everyone, not just one person, so you should follow certain rules. For example, you can’t occupy the room and talk on the phone so that everyone else can hear you.

In fact, it’s better to spend this time building relationships with your colleagues and discussing mutual interests because it’s just polite. And make sure you’re not too loud, as other people might need some silence.

They criticize their colleagues.

Being able to make remarks about other people in a non-offensive way is a useful skill in general, especially at work. The first thing you should remember is to never do it in public — nobody is going to thank you for that.

And another thing is to set your goals correctly — if you want to help, not just place blame, you should avoid a patronizing tone and give a good argument so that your position sounds solid. Then praise the things the person does well, and offer your help. Kindness and being willing to help are great ways to demonstrate your professionalism.

They call at off hours because “it’s urgent.”

Phone calls are often inconvenient, even if it’s from our friends and family. That being said, work-related calls can cause a very negative reaction, especially during off hours. In order not to make colleagues uncomfortable, stick to a couple of ground rules.

First, think about whether the call is really important. Can you solve it later? Maybe it can wait. Second, if you do need to make a call, send a simple text, asking if it’s okay for you to call. This will reduce the irritation and let the person prepare for the conversation.

They don’t support the chain of command.

We usually pay attention to people’s gender and age. Typically, men help women and young people help older folks. Many people apply the same rules to their work life, but, in fact, this is often a very different situation.

Business etiquette is a completely different situation. Women can also hold the door if they were there first. Besides, if it’s a boss-employee situation, the latter should show respect and let the boss pass first.

They’re silent in group chats.

Sometimes, we don’t want to talk to dozens of people in group chats, especially because they can decide everything without us.

But etiquette still forces us to be active in such chats. It’s a way to support a person if he or she writes a text and nobody replies.

They share bad news over messenger.

It’s better to keep bad news to yourself, even if you’re very eager to share it. Our brain has a more acute reaction to negative information rather than positive. What if the person you’re telling bad news to is driving or doing something else just as important? It’s better to tell such news in person.

They play games before getting to the point.

In many cases, it’s better to get to the point quicker. The conversation should be short, easy to understand, and polite. Also, you can write a letter or warn a person that you want to talk to them in advance.

These are some of the rules people follow to move up the career ladder pretty quickly. Maybe you have some other secret life hacks we didn’t mention in this article. Or perhaps you know how to win a fight or express your thoughts very clearly in a professional setting. Tell us in the comment section below, and our readers will thank you.