"Etiquette is not about
being 'stuffy.' It's about putting yourself forward in the best possible way, using courtesy and respect for others as your guide, while still allowing your own personality to shine!
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Research shows that 85% of the reason you get a job, keep a job, and advance in a job is your soft skills.
Whether you are interacting with people face to face, on-line, or by telephone, the details of how you present yourself matter.
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During my past life in the corporate world, I worked for a man for whom I had a lot of admiration; he had made his fortune and then moved on to participate in a number of organizations and activities that made a tremendous difference in the lives of others.
Jim liked a certain type of grapefruit juice, so I made it a habit to always have it available in the office fridge for him. It came in a four pack and as he was in the office only a few days a week, it was perfect -- until someone else in the office decided he liked it too. This other person took to helping himself to the grapefruit juice, drinking at least two or three of the bottles just before Jim flew in for the week, despite the note I had left attached to them. Frustrating? That doesn't quite describe the situation. We were actually two companies sharing office space -- Jim was partnered with the CEO of the other company on certain things (I worked for both companies in terms of human resources) and technically, this other individual did not answer to him, but Jim was president and owner of one of the companies, and not only due the respect of his position, but the juice was clearly not up for "public" consumption!
Would you be surprised to know that the kitchen can be one of the main sources of tension among co-workers? Problems often center around the office fridge, and like my issue with the grapefruit juice, a common question is "Who ate my sandwich?"
1. If you don't know who the culprit is, it's okay to post a sign on the fridge -- "I'm glad someone had the opportunity to enjoy the protein shake I brought for today. I would be happy to share my recipe, instead of my lunch, in the future. In the meantime, please be kind and return my container to the counter."
2. If you know who snitched your food, don't approach him/her in anger; remember, you have to continue to work together. Ask if there was a mix-up, or "Can you help me understand how this happened?"
3. Be proactive (always a better approach). Label items with your name and the date before storing them in the fridge. The name obviously says who, the date because it tells people when, and that you are probably planning on eating it that day. It will also help prevent it from being thrown out if someone decides to clean out the fridge.
4. Keep a small cooler or mini fridge by your desk to avoid the problem all together!
I do know of a company that went so far as to install a video camera in their office kitchen when food mooching became a real problem. It turned out the boss was the responsible party. Oops.
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Remember...
Treating co-workers with courtesy and respect will go a long way towards creating a more enjoyable and productive environment for everyone. Your knowledge and use of workplace etiquette will reflect the professionalism you bring to your team.
How did I resolve my problem with the grapefruit juice? After billing the offender for the beverages he had consumed (they had been purchased via Jim's personal account), I made arrangements for a distributor to deliver a supply bi-monthly, which was then available to anyone in the office. It seemed to be the best solution for everyone.
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Jodi Blackwood
Business Etiquette & Customer Service Specialist
Speaker & Seminar Leader
"Etiquette is about polishing your approach,
not changing who you are."
mailto:jodi@jodiblackwood.com
360-798-4912 www.jodiblackwood.com
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