Can You Afford What Rudeness Is Costing Your Business?

Lydia Ramsey. All Jungle Joe right reserved. Reprint right grant so long as articl and by-lin ar publish intact and with all link made live c 2006..


Hav you ever thought about how much rude mai be affect your bottom line? What is the cost to your compani when you or the peopl who repres you lack proper manners? Do you know how mani client ar turn off by employe who would rather carri on a convers with each other than with the person who came to purchas your servic or product? Can you count the number of peopl who hang up and call someon els becaus the person who answer your phone put them on hold without ask permission? How doe the client rate your profession when the employe who welcom him to your offic look as if she is dress for a dai at the beach? Do your employe understand that it is more offens then friendli to call the client by first name unless ask to do so? Are your employe treat each other with courtesi and respect? Do thei honor the invis wall of each other' cubicles? Do thei work as a team and help each other or do thei act like cast member on Survivor?

it' easi to overlook the detail that can help you grow your business,In today' fast-pac busi world where too mani peopl claim that thei don't have time to be nice. increas your profit and build long last client relationships.

Tri take thi quick true/fals quiz to test your own busi etiquett expertise. Then run it by your employees.

1. Busi etiquett is base on rank and hierarchy. True/False

draw a line through it and write the correct inform on the card. True/Fals2. If the inform on your busi card is incorrect.e

3. Busi casual mean dress down on notch from busi professional. True/False

it is not necessari to ask your clients' permiss befor us their first names. True/Fals4. In today' relax busi environment.e

5. Caller do not mind hold for inform as much as hold for a person. True/False

6. You don't have to smile or make ey contact with your custom unless you feel like it. True/False

7. Handwritten note ar out of place in the busi world. True/False

8. A man should wait for a woman to put out her hand in busi befor offer his. True/False

complet the "To" line last. True/Fals9. When compos an e-mail message.e

10. Small talk around the offic is a wast of time. True/False

drink and chew over the phone. True/Fals11. Peopl can hear you eating.e

look to see who is calling,12. If you receiv a call on your cell phone when you ar with a client. but don't answer it. True/False

A nswers:

you alwai defer to the senior or highest rank person,1. True. In business. regardless of ag or gender.

2. False. Hand out busi card with inform that is outdat or cross off is unprofessional. Have new card print immediately.

and everyon need to look professional3. True. Busi casual is not an excus to wear your favorit old cloth to the office. It is still business..

4. False. Don't assum becaus our work world ha becom more inform that you can call client by their first name. Use their titl and last name until thei ask you to do otherwise.

work on their behalf. However,5. True. Client will wait contentedli while you search for information. if thei have to wait more than thirti second for you to come to the phone, thei begin to wonder how much you valu them or want their business.

6. False. Thi is onli true if you ar plan a going-out-of-busi sale. Everi client deserv a genuin smile and ey contact.

7. False. Handwritten note have becom almost as extinct as the typewriter. You will stand out from your competit everi time you send off a short note written in your own hand.

8. False. Everi woman should be prepar to shake hand as soon as she meet someon in business. For either a man or woman to hesit could indic a lack of confidence.

without check for grammar and punctuat and without a subject line; but you cannot send e-mail without an address. If you wait until you have carefulli proof your messag and ad all attach befor you complet the "To " line,9. True. You can send e-mail without insert an attachment. you will never be embarrass or have to apolog for your mistakes.

in the right place and on the right subject is a great wai to build relationship among co-workers10. False. Small talk carri on at the right time..

11. True. Mouth nois ar even louder over the phone. Just becaus your client can't see you eat those potato chip doesn't mean thei can't hear you munch on the other end of the line.

12. False. It is just as rude to pull out your phone to see who call as it is to have it on and take a call in front of a client. Turn your phone off and check your messag later in private.

your employe will,If you had troubl with ani of these questions. too. If you want your employe to be at eas in busi situations, to repres you well and help build your business, give them the inform thei need. If you haven't done basic busi etiquett skill train lately, do it now. Don't let rude behavior cost you business.

that thei understand the import of be attent and alert to clients' needs,Make sure that your employe know how to handl client over the phone. that the valu other people' time and that thei can deal with difficult peopl and situat with grace.

and from time to time,No on is born with good manners. Peopl have to be taught. thei need to be remind of what thei alreadi know.