Beyond The Handshake: The Hidden Language of Business Etiquette

The value of business etiquette in 2023, plus tips on lesser-known rules 

In an increasingly virtual working world, the standards and expectations of business etiquette are constantly shifting. Many refer to the three Rs of business etiquette: recognition, respect, and response. But beyond these broad ideas related to “being professional“, there are also numerous unwritten rules that can make or break a deal or a relationship. 

Harnessing a network of both tech and recruitment professionals, Jefferson Frank, a Tenth Revolution Group company, has conducted a survey to gauge current attitudes towards business etiquette. The results offer a resounding assurance that business etiquette is still essential even as the business world continues to grow and change. 

Survey Results

Commenting on the survey‘s outcome, Jefferson Frank Chairman and CEO James Lloyd-Townshend said: “I’m glad to see this, and not at all surprised. It’s definitely true that business practices and norms change over time – which is a good thing. But it’s also true that how we conduct ourselves and treat others in a professional context will always be important, whether the foundation of those relationships is virtual or in person.” 

We’re spotlighting some less obvious elements of business etiquette that you can incorporate into your workplace practices to ensure you come across well to your colleagues, partners, and clients alike: 

Don’t interrupt: It’s polite to wait until someone has finished speaking to respond, but this can fall away quite quickly when meetings are rushed or become intense. Waiting patiently for a speaker to conclude before offering your insight can positively impact how others perceive you and restore a sense of calm to the group. 

Balance your thankyous: It’s good to be gracious, and it’s essential to show appreciation for your colleagues or staff. But being overly profuse in your thankyous at every turn, particularly in response to smaller things like receiving an e-mail confirmation for a meeting, can actually make you seem insecure or, worse still, insincere. Try to offer thanks that feel appropriate to the moment. 

Think about your e-mail recipient: It’s very easy for digital communication to feel quite detached, even abstract – which can lead to both rudeness and miscommunication. But every message or e-mail you send is actually addressed to someone (or a group of people). Try to think about the recipient in the moment, rather than the fact that they’re not actually in front of you as you’re typing. Don’t communicate in a way that you wouldn’t if you were actually face-to-face. 

Watch the Caps Lock: Typing in all capital letters is considered shouting in digital communication. If you’re looking to emphasise a portion of text, try to draw attention to it with your choice of words – or better yet, pick up the phone and speak to someone so nothing gets lost in translation. 

Methodology 

The survey was conducted on the Frank Recruitment Group LinkedIn page in June 2023. The poll was open to Frank Recruitment Group’s network of tech and recruitment professionals, and the number of respondents totalled 313.