Basic Business Etiquette Training

I Can’t Believe You Did That!: Understanding Basic Business Etiquette

Program Overview

This program is designed for people newly joining or recently returning to the workforce. It covers workplace expectations and acceptable behaviors: appropriate business dress and grooming, verbal communication, telephone skills, time management, and general professional deportment. This course can easily be adjusted to incorporate your organization's specific challenges and policies. It is also well suited for organizations which have promoted from within and are challenged by inappropriate employee behavior.

Program Objectives

At this program's conclusion, participants should be able to:

• Define appropriate and inappropriate office behavior.
• Describe appropriate office dress.
• Demonstrate use of the telephone in a business environment: answer the phone, transfer a call, place a caller on hold, etc.
• List steps for dealing with difficult people.
• Rephrase blunt communication for blue ribbon professionalism.
• Understand and demonstrate the use of to-do lists and the ABC prioritization technique.
• Explain methods for handling typical office interruptions: visitors, the telephone, the boss, subordinates, etc.
• Outline tactics for overcoming procrastination.
• Develop an action plan to improve professionalism in work areas.

Course Outline

What's Appropriate for Work?:  Understanding the Difference Between Social and Professional Behavior

This course begins with a fun and fast-paced discussion of basic business behavior.  Participants will identify behaviors appropriate for the workplace and those that are unacceptable.  This proven approach allows employees to target areas for self and/or group improvement.

From Diamonds in the Rough: Polishing Your Professional Behavior

This component covers various aspects of workplace communication: from telephone skills to email etiquette.  Through case studies and quizzes, participants will learn how to improve their interaction with both internal and external customer/client contacts.

Dress for Success: Looking Your Best

Often, creating a positive visual impression is as important as effective verbal and listening skills.  In this unit, participants will play fashion critic, identifying appropriate and inappropriate work attire from a series of photographs.  This unique approach to learning helps participants understand the difference between simply meeting a dress code versus looking their best.  Emphasis is placed on appearing clean, well groomed, and appropriately dressed without spending a "ridiculous amount of money."

On Time and On Track: Keys to Basic Time Management

This program concludes with an uplifting discussion of how to "get it all done" when there is too much to do, prioritize when there are multiple tasks at hand, manage work and home life, and set achievable goals.

Upon completion of the training, participants will have an understanding of acceptable workplace dress, communication etiquette, basic time management skills, and what behaviors are better left to social relationships.