Apr
2
I came across a great article on business etiquette called More Than Just Eating With the Right Fork by Paula Williams that I thought I would share tips from over the next few weeks.
Here is tip #4…
Peers and Subordinates
Impressing the boss isn’t enough.
A 1997 study by Manchester Partners International, says even in this tight job market, 40% of new management hires fail in their first jobs. The key reason for their failure is their inability to build good relationships with peers and subordinates.
Social rank or class is a cornerstone of social interaction in many cultures. The corporate climate in the United States is no exception. People tend to feel uneasy until they’ve seen an “organizational chart” or figured out who reports to whom. They feel that it is more important to show respect and practice etiquette around superiors than around peers or subordinates.
The current social and economic climate is one of rapid advancement through technology, which make it very possible (and even likely) for a pesky salesman to become an important client, or an administrative assistant to become a manager.
Mergers and acquisitions add to this “class mixing,” causing a former competitor to become a coworker overnight.
This can make things awkward if you treat people differently depending on their “corporate standing.” If you show respect and courtesy to everyone, regardless of position or company, you avoid discomfort or damaging your chances in any unexpected turn of events.
Having a consistent demeanor improves your credibility. Even the people at the top will begin to suspect your motives if you treat VIPs with impeccable courtesy and snap at counter clerks.
