2006 Etiquette Survey Results and Commentary
Prepared by Pamela Fay 14th November 2006
The etiquette survey was conducted on the businessetiquette.ie website over the period of a month from the 11th of October to the 11th of November 2006. During that time 164 people took part in the survey. Please see responses to the eight questions with short commentary. Please note if you would like to discuss the results in more detail, drop me an email to info@pamelafay.ie.
1.DressCode
- 34% of respondents wear a business suit
- 23% wear business casual
- 31% wear a combination of business suit and business casual and
- 12% wear other
2. Do you think that a Casual Friday policy is a good idea?
- 57% said yes
- 31% said no
- 12% said other
For any professional business person the key thing to remember is how you want to be perceived by your clients and customers. How you dress in work should be to a large extent determined by how your clients expect to see you dressed. If the norm is the business suit, then you should wear a business suit. In terms of the “threshold effect” that we all have;
- 55% of your impact on someone is based on your appearance, body language and the way you take up space.
- 8% is based on how you deliver your message: the tone, volume, pitch and pace of your voice.
- 7% is on the spoken word.
This means that dress is incredibly important in terms of projecting a professional image. If you are going to dress differently to the industry standard just ensure that you are consistent in your approach. Clients and customers want to know what to expect when they are meeting with you.
3. Is it acceptable to consume alcohol at a business event?
- 51% of respondents said yes
- 32% of respondents said only when it is an in-company event with colleagues
- 17% of respondents said no
My guide on consuming alcohol is that no more than two alcoholic drinks should be consumed at a business event. No matter how social your business is, it is still business. As individuals we all do know our limits but ensure that if you are going to be taking a drink at a business function that you have had a good lunch or early dinner before consuming alcohol.
If you are a business hosting a staff party or Christmas party there are a number of options that you can consider when planning the party: Either have a short drinks party (no more than two hours maximum) or host a dinner and ensure that waiters are instructed to fill wine glasses modestly and only twice during dinner. If a member of your team has overindulged insure that to take their car keys and that they are accompanied home in a taxi.
4. Is it acceptable to use bad language in work?
- 6% said yes
- 67% said no
- 27% said sometimes
Etiquette is based on three things, your appearance, your behaviour and how you communicate. If you do use bad language, the problem is that you don't know who you are offending and it affects your credibility as a business professional. Many people say that it is okay to use bad language with colleagues but not in front of clients but remember that walls have ears!
5. Is it acceptable to discuss private business matters on a mobile phone in a public place?
- 4% said yes
- 77% said no
- 19% said sometimes
I would always err on the side of caution when discussing business on a mobile in public. Ireland is a very small place and your never know who is sitting next to you in a café or on the train, it could be a competitor. This caution rule applies also to the use of laptops or any business materials in public (on a train or a business lounge in an airport or on a plane).
6. What action would you take if you were on the receiving end of bad manners?
- 6% would do nothing
- 34% would give feedback to the individual themselves
- 32% would report it to the individual's manager
- 28% would move their business elsewhere
The most interesting figure here it the 28% that would move their business elsewhere if they were on the receiving end of bad manners. Business owners need to ensure that every interaction with the client is managed with good intent and in a timely fashion.
7. In your opinion are business people in Ireland more mannerly than 10 years ago?
- 19% said yes
- 60% said no
- 21% said the same
60% of respondents think that we as business people are less mannerly than 10 years ago. This means that it should be a focus area for each business manager in 2007 to ensure that their team is at all times focusing on the needs of customers and clients and meeting those needs in a mannerly fashion at all times.
8. Do you think manners are important in Irish business?
- 99% said yes
- 1% said no
For further information on business etiquette training for your or your business, contact Pam on email at info@pamelafay.ie or by phone on 086 1737125.