Many business professionals aren’t very professional at all. For these individuals, success in their business endeavors comes with much strife. Yet, if they took the time to look at how they interact with other professionals, it could change their whole perception of themselves. 

There are many reasons to have good business manners, the primary reason being that when people like you your chances of success are improved. If you haven’t given your own business etiquette much thought, you might want to think again. 

1. Give Timely Replies

In the business world, there are unwritten rules. One of those unwritten rules it to allow 24 hours for a reply by email. Making someone wait the full 24 hours is usually unnecessary, but things do happen and everyone understands that.

Waiting any longer than 24 hours tells the sender they don’t matter. If that sender is your boss or a client, that could spell bad news for your future in business. Go back over your emails a couple of times a day to make sure you aren’t giving anyone the cold shoulder. 

2. Don’t Spam Your Coworkers

Email chains can become annoying, especially when they aren’t pertinent to anything you do. Before you include anyone in a back-and-forth discussion, decide whether or not they really need to be in on it.

Or, if the conversation ventures away from them, start a new email chain between you and anyone who still belongs in the conversation. Otherwise, you could come off as one of those types of people who simply enjoy hearing themselves talk, and nobody is ever impressed with that. 

3. Knock Before Entering

You wouldn’t walk into someone’s bedroom at home without knocking, and for many people, their office offers the same type of individual privacy. Always knock before entering any room, whether it’s an office or a meeting room. 

It gives the people inside time to refocus if they need to or to change the discussion. It’s just good business etiquette. 

4. Be Considerate During Meetings

You’ve seen people who can’t keep their hands off their personal phones during business meetings. You also know those people aren’t listening to the person who has the floor. Don’t be one of those people.

Save your phone for breaks, unless you’re expecting an important call or your child is home sick. In those situations, explain to the room before the meeting starts. Otherwise, keep it out of site. 

People take notice of good business etiquette as much as they do poor business etiquette. When you’re considerate of others, they’re more likely to want you on their team, which means when they move up, so might you.