Do you understand the importance of business manner at a job interview?
Differences between “Manner” and “Rule”
- Manner
is not a rule, however, you should change your behavior according to TPO (Time, Place and Occasion)
Example: On a train, you give your seat to an elderly person or a disabled person. - Rule
is a written rule.
Example: You must not drive a car without driving license.
What is “Manner”?
You should be “good-mannered” in order not to make someone feel unpleasant.
It has been built up as a common sense over a long period of history.
For example, Smoking areas have been created because some people disguise the odor of smoke or feel uneasy about the risk of breathing secondhand smoke. Also you should not make a loud noise at night, because it can disturb someone’s sleep.
Moreover, manners have varied with times. As the use of cell-phones has widely spread, a rule was established that people should not talk on the phone on trains.
Three principles of manner
- You ought not to cause other people problem. Do not just think about yourself.
- You need to create a positive image. Good relationships will be created only by being trusted.
- You ought to respect others. What others think is important is the same as what you think is important.
What is “Business Manner”?
It is a manner that you need to have as a member of a company.
That every member of your company has a good manner means that YOUR COMPANY is well-mannered.
And vice versa, even if YOU are bad-mannered and have made a client uncomfortable, the client may think that “YOUR COMPANY” does not have any good manner.
Therefore, every person is required to be good-mannered to build good relationships with your business partners or customers, etc.
Company as an Organization
A company is a group consisting of people who have the same goal. You will work with various types of people, such as a supervisor/boss who is 30~40 years older than you, and part-time workers and contract workers, etc.
However, please remember that you do not have any right to choose with whom you will work. What matters is to have things go smoothly whomever you work with. This is why you need to understand the importance of business manner.
4 tips to establish good relationships
- Be considerate to other people
(Think from other people’s point of view and change your act appropriately) - Try to understand what they think and how they feel
- Communicate with others frequently
(Not only conveying your opinion but also listening to them) - Act with good business manner
Did you understand the importance of business manner now?
Next week we will show you how important the communication is, what good postures are like and basic etiquette.
