Marking National Business Etiquette Week: June 4-10, 2023

Hosted annually, National Business Etiquette Week (June 4-10, 2023) is a designated time to recognize the importance of proper business etiquette to compete in the growing global marketplace. Established in 2007 to highlight the importance of proper etiquette and the ways in which it improves interpersonal and intercultural communications, creates a professional environment for building relationships, and allows organizations to conduct business effectively in the global marketplace.

Why does business etiquette matter?  

Soft skills, also known as people skills and emotional intelligence, have a positive influence on the culture of an organization. These abilities impact career development, staff retention, and client satisfaction. Respect, kindness, and trust create the foundation upon which all relationships are built. In addition, demonstrating cultural awareness helps others feel at ease in professional and social settings. Enhancing business etiquette over time will build stronger connections with clients and colleagues, resolve conflicts more quickly, and positively reflect your brand. 

Here are six skills you can practice during National Business Etiquette Week and beyond: 

1. Cell phone etiquette: Always silence your phone during meetings and special events to avoid distracting other participants and to show respect to the host. Here’s a short clip on cell phone etiquette from The Today Show, featuring PSOW President Pamela Eyring: https://youtu.be/1blg_rDe6u4 . 

2. Making a smooth entrance: PSOW President Pamela Eyring shares effective ways to enter a group and make introductions and small talk. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDozHUc05Cw . 

3. Nonverbal communication skills matter: 94 percent of communication is nonverbal. In this video you will learn skills from Pamela Eyring to communicate effectively and understand the nonverbal cues from others. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeEjeCkdqpM . 

4. Professional image:  Convey a polished image with these business attire and dining tips: https://youtu.be/Sbt1K0wnGE4 . 

5. Be a good office colleague: Did you know most Americans will spend 90,000 hours at work? Make a positive impression with these tips on proper office behavior: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeUp-GtJg24 .  

6. Remember names: In this video, Lynn Williams from the PSOW client relations team meets with Tyler Ryan and Grace Joyal from Good Morning Columbia on ABC News to share tips for retaining the names of the people you meet at business or social functions: https://youtu.be/nD_k0Ct7SmA . 

This week, as we highlight the importance of business etiquette and protocol, we encourage you to continue to practice civility, kindness, respect, and politeness all year long.