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Training helps avoid business faux pas: from the death grip handshake to office cursing.

Article Excerpt
Teaching employees business etiquette not only helps the business in revenue and reputation, said Deloma Ensley Sherwood, but gives employees confidence in how they work with each other, their supervisors and customers.

Sherwood, owner of Personal Image and Style by Deloma Sherwood, a Wenatchee area image consulting business, told members and guests at the Apple Valley Human Resources Association's February meeting that before any training begins to think about what etiquette means.

Suggested definitions from the audience included manners, respect and propriety. Sherwood also offered up her own definition: A way of behaving or doing things that shows respect to others and makes them feel comfortable.

Sherwood also asked attendees for examples of breaches of etiquette:

* Side conversations during meetings;

* Cell phones;

* Public humiliation during meetings on work problems that should be part of a professional discussion done in private;

* Profanity or racial slurs.

"Every day, the things we do and say have a good effect and negative effect on others," Sherwood said.

Sherwood said while some business employees, managers or owners may have etiquette skills, everyone has bad days. If you goof up, Sherwood said, don't beat yourself up.

A good starting place, however, is etiquette training in the workplace, especially for employees just entering the work force.

Sherwood said front line employees need a script when dealing with customers and they need to know how the owner...

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