Etiquette, and manners is one of the few things in our lives over which we have control.
If one has perfect manners one will always be an asset to your Image, and may even be your insurance policy against discrimination or ridicule. Etiquette facilitates trust between strangers and minimises offence.
Do not be afraid to ask someone with experience of a particular occasion for etiquette advice.
It shows a sign of maturity and certain responsibility, not ignorance. Much of the traditional etiquette rules are no longer taught at school or even in the home.
In today’s more relaxed culture, some of the rules are bent at times, however, if one is prepared to follow the rules, one will give people the impression that you are respectful of them and their time.
Some general etiquette rules people need to know for networking and dining.
Order of Introduction:
Traditional conventions of introductions are that the gentlemen are introduced to the ladies, junior colleagues are introduced to senior colleagues, and a person of a lesser rank is introduced to a person of greater rank.
When in doubt, use the title and surname.
There is an order of importance when making an introduction. An easy way to remember is to say the name the person with the most authority first.
When introducing two people to each other, you do need to remember precedence (the order in which people are addressed, greeted, introduced, referred, seated and served.)
In both formal and informal social settings, women have precedence over men; older people over younger (as long as they are the same gender); smaller groups usually over larger groups.
Senior executives have precedence over junior executives. If there is two of the same rank, defer to the one with seniority.
Clients and customers have precedence over fellow associates, regardless of rank.
When making introductions always remember to:
1. Determine the order of precedence.
2. Say the most distinguished person's first and last name or title and last name, first, while looking at him or her. Use appropriate names and titles.
3. Choose appropriate introductions, for example: Formal - "Rev. Jones, may I present...Mr. Smith", Business or social - "Ms. Green, May I introduce...Mr. White"; or
"Mr. Client, I would like to introduce...Mr. Co-Worker"; Casual - "Susan Smith, this is...Bob Jones", may appear unsophisticated, especially in a business setting.
4. Always stand for introductions and make eye contact.
5. Always introduce people by their preferential name.
The way we meet and greet them creates lasting impressions and paves the way for a productive encounter. Introductions project information. Besides the obvious elements of name, title, and affiliation, an introduction conveys a level of respect and reflects how the person making the introduction views the other person's status. Mastering the art of the introduction will help put you and the people you are introducing at ease. Learning the basics - and they are not very difficult - is the first step.
The most important point about introductions is to make them. Failing to do so causes embarrassment and discomfort. If given a choice, most people would prefer you to make the introduction incorrectly, even if you forgot their name, rather than stand there unacknowledged and disregarded.
A second important point in any introduction is the order of names. The name of the person being introduced is mentioned last, and the person to whom the introduction is made is mentioned first. The rules for who is introduced to whom depend on whether it's a business or a social introduction.
Business Introductions: In business, introductions are based on power and hierarchy. Simply, persons of lesser authority are introduced to persons of greater authority. Gender plays no role in business etiquette; nor does it affect the order of introductions.
For example, you would say, "Mr./Ms. Greater Authority, I would like to introduce Mr./Ms. Lesser Authority." However, the person holding the highest rank may not be Mr./Ms. Greater Authority. A client, for instance, always takes precedence over anyone in your organisation, as does an elected official. Here are examples of pecking order:
The Etiquette of introductions is to be respectful and to help people start conversations.
Once you know the conventions, you can then understand when it is appropriate to follow them and when not to. When in doubt, start formal. You will never be penalised for having good manners.
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