Good manners and office etiquette go hand in hand, as they both involve presenting yourself in a respectful manner to imprint a favorable impression on others. This is essential in the business environment as when people have a favorable impression of you they are more likely to work with you or assist you when you are in a tight spot.

Proper office etiquette includes email etiquette, travel etiquette, interaction with co-workers and bosses and telephone etiquette to name a few. All of these add up to the way you keep your desk, your appearance and your physical and verbal behavior. You can obtain valuable career and personal support when you possess superior office etiquette skills. Some of benefits are as followed:

1. Proper office etiquette could lead to a promotion.

2. Being courteous to clients or potential clients makes them more eager to do business with your company or the company you are representing.

3. You gain respect by respecting others.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Instruct on office etiquette using various forms of media

You can receive office etiquette information buy purchasing DVDs, videos or CD-ROMs. You can use these in the comfort of your own home or at the office. The benefit of these media devices is that you have the opportunity to view them whenever you like, as often as you like.

I recommend: Business Training Media lists DVDs that are available for purchase with titles that include Basics of Business Etiquette, Telephone Skills and Training DVDs involving conducting business in other countries. K Alliance provides training software that covers guidelines regarding professional appearance, conducting business in an office and developing positive relationships with co-workers.

Purchase books to find office etiquette rules

Literature is available to act in combination with or in place of media. Books have the same benefit as DVDs or CD-ROMs because you can purchase them once and use them repeatedly. Books give you the office etiquette list of rules and guidelines for creating and maintaining a respectable environment with the option of making notes in the margin if the book is for your personal library.

I recommend: Office Etiquette and Protocol, available for purchase at learnatest.com, is good if you are searching to improve your office wtiquette at a reasonable price. Pearson has book called Guide to Business Etiquette, which is typically a textbook for students, but any professional in need of improving their office etiquette can use it.

Receive personal training through an office etiquette provider

You can receive on-site training with an office etiquette provider. This is great for businesses wishing to train their employees. The various providers present a list of courses, on their websites, covered under their office etiquette training.

I recommend: First Impression Management has a class titled "Business Etiquette Training for Professionals," which is on-site training covering a wide range of areas including "understanding body language" and "listening skills". Business Training Works is another provider. Their Business Etiquette training covers such topics as "new hire business etiquette training" and "dress for success" as well as free training on such topics as "cell phone use" and "dining with the president." The Training Registry provides an office etiquette directory that lists the various office etiquette providers along with their modes of training.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Another way to ensure the practice of proper office etiquette is through the various signs that you can place around the office. These signs can offer reminders regarding the lunchroom, smoking policy and bathroom etiquette.