Tag Archives: professional courtesy

Covid’s Lasting Impact on Professional Conduct

Posted on September 2, 2020 by Lydia Ramsey

This blog post on Covid’s lasting impact on professional conduct is written from the perspective of a business etiquette expert living in Savannah, Georgia, the Hostess City.

Whoever thought that six months after the coronavirus emerged in the US, we would still be suffering its effects in all aspects of our lives? Few of us believe that things will be the same as they were pre-pandemic. A question on the minds of many is what the long-term effects on our business and professional conduct will be.

Emerging from Corona

My home, Savannah, has long been noted for its charm and grace. Visitors to our city are wowed by our cordiality and friendliness. When we emerge from COVID-19, fearful of physical contact and personal interactions, will we still be able to display that Southern charm for which we are renowned? If we must hide behind masks and practice social distancing, can we maintain the hallmarks of our unique business environment and Southern hospitality? How will your city survive?

It can be done, but it will be different. The firm handshake that defines the business professional may become a faint memory. Hugs and kisses, also part of our business culture, may also fade away while we wait to learn that it is “safe to go back into the water.” Thank you, “Jaws” director Steven Spielberg.

Meeting and Greeting Post Pandemic

How will we meet and greet others from this point on? What will happen to the handshake? If you are not comfortable shaking hands, decide now how you will handle that. Be ready to say, “Please excuse me for not shaking your hand, but I am not comfortable doing that yet.” Nothing else needs to be said.

I am not a fan of fist or elbow bumps in the business environment. They are too close for comfort and not worthy of a polished professional.

Wining and Dining

Wining, dining and conducting business over meals, a critical part of relationship building, will not be the same. Until we feel confident that the virus is not a threat to our collective health, something as simple as sharing a cup of coffee may be complicated.

When you consider where to meet for your business meal, you will want to check with the restaurant about their safety precautions. Make sure that they are following the recommended guidelines so you can concentrate on the business at hand and not worry about the environment.

Smiling through Your Face Mask

Face masks will be part of daily business attire, making it challenging to exhibit charm and friendliness, but it can be done. Although people cannot see your smile through your mask, they can hear it in your tone of voice and see it through your eye contact. It has never been so much what you say as the way you say it that counts.

Professional Conduct Will Survive

For the foreseeable future, there is little doubt that it will be necessary to follow the safety guidelines currently in place. Life will be different, and it will take some getting used to. Old habits may have to be broken, but courtesy and kindness (aka professional conduct) do not have to fall victim to the coronavirus. Whatever needs to be done to protect ourselves and others going forward can be done with the same grace and charm that Savannahians have always shown in their personal and professional lives.

Replying to Invitations is Good Business and Good Manners

Posted on February 18, 2014 by Lydia Ramsey

Failure to reply to invitations is a common occurrence today. Whether the occasion is all business, purely social or a combination of business and social, event planners and hosts need and deserve to know whether you plan to attend or not. It doesn’t matter if it’s a seated meal, a cocktail reception, a meeting or a seminar. The person or organization issuing the invitation needs an accurate count of the attendees in order to provide the right amount of food, beverages and materials.

Replying to invitations is a matter of good business and good manners. It is part of your personal packaging and a demonstration of your professional conduct.

Know the difference between “RSVP” and “Regrets Only.” If the invitation reads “RSVP,” you are required to answer one way or the other. “Yes,” you are coming, or “no” you are not. If the invitation reads “Regrets Only,” you need only let the hosting individual or organization know that you will not be attending. If you do not reply, the expectation is that you will be present.

As soon as you receive an invitation, check your calendar, make a decision and take action. The only acceptable reason to delay is if you truly are not certain of your plans. It is inconsiderate to wait until the last minute to see if something better comes along before you reply. If you have a legitimate reason for delaying your response, let the hosting group know. Otherwise they may wonder if you received your invitation and will set about having someone call you for your answer.

When you are invited to a meal function and find that you cannot attend after you said you would, you must let someone know of your change of plans. It is unforgivable to accept an invitation to breakfast, lunch or dinner and fail to show. If you do, you probably should be calling from the hospital to explain your absence. In the event of a true emergency that prevents your phoning ahead of time, call your host first thing the next day with your explanation and apology.

When organizations go to the trouble to bring people together for food, fellowship or professional development, they should not have to guess how many will show up. It costs both time and money to operate this way. When businesses plan events for their colleagues and clients, they deserve a professional and thoughtful response.

It is simply a matter of good manners, proper etiquette and professional conduct.

Here’s to your good manners!

Photo from Savannah magazine

Hire Lydia to work with your staff to improve customer service and employee relations through the use of those priceless and often over-looked soft skills called manners. Lydia is the “unstuffy” business etiquette expert who helps individuals and organizations add the polish that builds profits. We’re talking about your bottom line here.

Since 1996, countless people have benefited from her wisdom through keynotes, seminars and conference breakout sessions. Her Southern charm and sense of humor have made her a sought-after speaker and consultant.

Based in Savannah, Georgia, Lydia is available for national, regional and local speaking and training engagements. She has suitcase; will travel.

Contact her via email at lydia@lydiaramsey.com or call 912-604-0080. Sign up for her free monthly newsletter and visit her website, lydiaramsey.com.

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Is Your Business Etiquette Ready for the Holidays?

Posted on September 10, 2013 by Lydia Ramsey

Everywhere you turn this week and last, somebody somewhere is reminding you that summer is over. Fall is here, no matter what the temperature is where you are, and it is time to focus on work. There is no more serious vacation time until the holiday season arrives. And, folks, it will be here before you know it. Therefore my advice for you is to prepare now.

That may sound a bit far-fetched, but trust me, there are certain things you need to be doing. I haven’t seen any holiday decorations up yet, but I am willing to bet one of you has–and I don’t mean those icicle lights that some people put up five years ago and haven’t bothered to take down.

Is your business etiquette ready for the holidays? What do you need to do now to prepare for the season?

Step 1: Order that special holiday greeting card for your business this month. You will want to have the name of your company and your name printed on it. You will want to make sure that the quality of your card speaks to the quality of your business and the value of your customer. And keep in mind that the polished professional always signs each card personally—even those with the name printed on them.

Step 2: Review and update your address list. Make corrections for people who have moved on or changed their name or address. Add the names of your new clients.

Step 3: If you can get the envelopes before the cards come in (not possible if you have your return address printed on them), start to address them. Better yet, assign that task to someone else, preferably someone with an attractive handwriting. You are not going to use those computer-generated labels that are so impersonal.

Step 4: Decide on an appropriate gift that you want to give your special clients and order now. If you have any doubt about your company’s policy on gifts or your clients’ policy, this is the time to check that out.

Step 5: If you will be planning a holiday party for your employees or perhaps your clients, you might want to select the venue now before some other business professional beats you to your ideal location.

If you take care of these five steps now, you will be amazed how much less stress you will feel when the holidays hit.

Photo from Savannah magazine

Based in Savannah, Georgia, Lydia is available for national, regional and local speaking and training engagements. She has suitcase; will travel.

Contact her via email at lydia@lydiaramsey.com or call 912-604-0080. Sign up for her free monthly newsletter and visit her website, lydiaramsey.com.

Technology Has Us on Auto-Pilot

Posted on August 26, 2013 by Lydia Ramsey

This morning the phone rang. That in itself was a surprise since I am now more accustomed to hearing the little beep that signals an email message or a text has arrived as opposed to the sound of my phone ringing. I used to welcome phone calls because they meant I was about to be connected to a person. As an extrovert, I love connecting with other people. Yahoo, someone from the outside world wants to talk to me.

All that has changed, and I realized just how much this morning. As I glanced at my caller ID, I saw that the call was coming from my dentist’s office. I have an appointment in a few days so I immediately thought, “This is a reminder call.” Something in my brain added, “Oh yes, it is one of those automated messages.” So I picked up the phone and waited to hear a recording that would tell me the date and time of my appointment. Nothing happened. Silence. Then a woman’s voice tentatively said, “Hello?” Oh my gosh, it was a real live person calling me.

Needless to say, I was more than a little embarrassed. Fortunately for me, the woman calling with a reminder had a delightful sense of humor. When I explained why I had answered without so much as a “hello,” we both started to laugh. She assured me that this dental office does not use automated calls. How refreshing.

At the same time, how sad. How sad that we have come to expect recordings, text messages and emails and that when we hear the voice of a real live person, we are surprised or even shocked. We are rapidly removing all that is personal from our communication with other people. We take for granted, as I did today, that we are not going to have that “live” experience with another human being.

Technology has us on auto-pilot. While it may save time and money to use automation, what has it done to our ability to build relationships? Ultimately what is the price we will pay for distancing ourselves from other people? Are we now programmed to be programmed?

By the way, I could have avoided the embarrassment of that moment when I simply picked up the phone and listened if I had followed my own business etiquette advice.

First: When you answer the phone, always, always, always give a greeting followed by your name.

Second: Never make assumptions based on caller ID. The person on the other end of the line may be someone else all together from the name you see on your phone or screen.

To sum this up, use professional courtesy when answering the phone. Your reputation and success depend on it. Don’t let technology put you on auto-pilot.

Here’s to your professional courtesy,

Photo from Savannah magazine

Based in Savannah, Georgia, Lydia is available for national, regional and local speaking and training engagements. She has suitcase; will travel.

Contact her via email at lydia@lydiaramsey.com or call 912-604-0080. Sign up for her free monthly newsletter and visit her website, lydiaramsey.com.

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