Common Business Event Etiquette Mistakes to Avoid

Business etiquette doesn’t have to be complicated. But there are a few common etiquette mistakes of which both business event guests and their hosts are guilty. Don't become a business faux pas statistic. Here are 8 business etiquette mistakes to avoid when faced with common business meetings and events like seminars, conferences, business meals, and cocktail receptions.

• 01

   Failing to Respond to the RSVP

  Bad Etiquette Scenario: You are a manager in the company and receive an invitation from the director of another department, inviting you to attend an important product launch. The RSVP requests that you call a specific individual to confirm your attendance.
  You put the invitation to the side of your desk, and it quickly gets covered by a stack of work. Two weeks later the inviting host calls you up and extends a personal invitation, also asking that you interact socially with key customers at the launch. At that time, you give an enthusiastic, “yes.”
  Etiquette Pro Tip: Don't force event organizers to follow up with you. Respond within five days of receiving an invitation or by requested RSVP date.

   

  02

   Failing to Follow the Dress Code

  • Bad Etiquette Scenario: The printed invitation you left 10 weeks ago on your desk served as a scrap piece of paper for some random conversation since then. The product launch is a breakfast seminar at a local hotel.

    Because you work at a software company where the dress code is always business casual, you’re wearing khakis and a long sleeve shirt. You’re greeted at the registration table by a colleague in the company, and then step into the meeting room and find everyone else is wearing business attire.​

    Etiquette Pro Tip: Read the invitation prior to the event and note the dress code. When in doubt, overdress.

    03

     Failing to Arrive on Time

     Bad Etiquette Scenario: The invite agenda of the product launch you’re attending indicates arrivals at 8:30 a.m. and opening remarks at 9:00 a.m. There’s a breakfast buffet for guests during this time. You look at your watch and it’s 8:50 a.m., but you feel confident that you have still arrived on time.

    In a hurry, you failed to notice the two internal emails that were sent, summarizing the agenda and asking that you arrive between 8:00 and 8:15 a.m. so that corporate managers are present when important clients ​an (and some always arrive early).

    • Etiquette Pro Tip: Corporate managers and staff are always expected to be the first to arrive at an event. Know when you are expected to be there.

      04

       Failing to Make Introductions

      Bad Etiquette Scenario: You find a table for your muffin and water, and sit down – three minutes before the meeting begins.

      Lucky for you, everyone at the table knows you, but only three of eight people know each other. Thinking you don't have enough time, you turn to speak with the three familiar people and overlook the others.

      Etiquette Pro Tip: Remember to introduce everyone in the group, and make every effort to introduce lower-ranking individuals to the higher rank in the group

      05

       Failing to Yield Respectful Courtesies

      Bad Etiquette Scenario: Everyone at the table is getting along during the break, and the discussion goes into more depth on some of the talking points from the previous presentation. A client at the table is extremely interested in what your company has done to develop this new product.

      You have attended a product development training about this, and decide to share some perspectives with the table. You don’t notice this right away, but Dr. Jones was just about to respond to the question. You hear that she started to utter something, but continue speaking.

      Etiquette Pro Tip: Show deference to others in a variety of social and business settings. Dr. Jones is the senior executive at the table, and this is her question to address unless she defers to you.

      
      

      
      

      
      

      
      

      
      

      Source: www.thebalancesmb.com