Keep It Professional Training Online

Electronic communication has changed the way organizations communicate and share information. While the digital revolution brings with it new challenges, many of the fundamental principles of business etiquette still apply.

Overview

Keep it Professional provides practical tips and guidelines on business etiquette for email, cell phone, and social media.

Who Needs Keep it Professional Training Online?

All employees, supervisors, and managers who use electronic communications for work.

Course Outline

Overview of Business Etiquette

• Appropriate and professional approach
• Etiquette helps avoid mistakes and misunderstandings
• Privacy and security issues
• Legal issues
• Company policies for electronic communication

Email Etiquette

• Read email daily; respond within 2 business days
• Include ‘please’ and ‘thank you’
• Use professional salutation
• Be careful with humour
• Be aware of cultural differences
• Keep them short; use bullet points if must be long
• Address the email last; make sure you are sending it to the right person
• Write clear, direct subject line
• Use professional email address
• Include professional signature block
• Discuss one action per message; separate email for each request

Cell Phone Etiquette

• Use proper greeting and say your full name
• Speak in quiet, conversational voice
• Don’t answer phone when meeting with others
• Don’t leave long voice mails
• When leaving message, state full name and number clearly and slowly
• Do not discuss business in public places
• Have discreet ring tone
• Send text messages only if you have confirmed that the other person uses texting

Social Media Etiquette

• Always be polite, respectful, and professional; you represent your company
• Don’t spread gossip or falsehoods
• Don’t discuss proprietary or confidential information
• Report harmful or suspicious activity
• Respond promptly to messages you receive
• Don’t get into arguments
• Avoid controversial topics
• Pay attention to writing and grammar
• Keep it simple, clear
• Know what you are talking about
• Share your knowledge
• Don’t denigrate other people’s ideas, knowledge, opinions

Personal Use at Work

• Personal vs. private
• Problems with using personal cell phones and email at work
• Social media slip-ups at work