Business Etiquette & Cultural Training: PSOW’s Pamela Eyring Discusses Why It’s Such an Important “People Issue” Impacting Business Bottom Lines Today
PSOW President Pamela Eyring was recently a guest on The JoyPowered® Workspace Podcast, where she spoke with JoDee Curtis and Susan White about the importance of business etiquette and cultural training.
As the podcast hosts cover in their interview with Pamela, protocol embodies the rules that we put in our societies and professions to have an orderly way of doing business. Etiquette is how we do that business.
At the top of the discussion, the three discuss how building protocol and etiquette skills is an excellent way to grow as a professional. As we get used to doing business and building relationships in person again, etiquette is an important part of our daily lives.
As shared on the episode website: Lack of etiquette and cultural sensitivity can lead to missed opportunities; people don’t want to work with people they perceive as rude or disrespectful. And knowing about the work culture and norms of other countries can help foster understanding and stronger relationships.
The way your people behave is part of your brand, so put your etiquette and protocol expectations in your training and employee handbooks.
Those little common things can really turn someone off. And in fact, maybe even not qualify you for a promotion and those kinds of things.
As globalization continues to shape the corporate world, understanding unique business cultures and international business etiquette can be more important than ever.
Here are some key trends:
Cultural intelligence training. Companies are investing in cultural intelligence training to help employees navigate diverse business environments. This includes understanding communication styles, negotiation tactics, and workplace norms across different cultures.
Hybrid and remote work etiquette. With the rise of remote work, businesses are adapting to new etiquette standards, such as virtual meeting protocols, time zone considerations, and digital communication best practices.
In the interview, Pamela walks listeners through why their organizations should take a personalized approach to business etiquette. Instead of a one size fits all approach, many of the businesses that we serve at PSOW are tailoring etiquette guidelines to specific regions and industries, ensuring more effective cross-cultural interactions with an emphasis on relationship building.
Across the world, people do business with people who they trust, prioritizing relationship building over transactional interactions. Now is more important than ever for companies to focus on long-term partnerships - rather than quick deals - for long-term profitability.
A few key points discussed:
How protocol and etiquette help build relationships and advance careers
When lack of protocol leads to confusion, conflict, and missed opportunities
The value of protocol in today’s fast-paced and informal work culture
You can listen to the full episode here and reach out to us if we can support the creation of a business etiquette program to fit your business’s needs.
