Free Essay About “Business Basics—professionalism And Etiquette In The Workplace”:

A Summary

Lisa Witt’s presentation on “Business Basics—Professionalism and Etiquette in the Workplace” is a thorough and comprehensive discussion about what professionalism and etiquette look like in the workplace. Witt navigates through the presentation by first defining the key terms, which are ‘professionalism’ and ‘etiquette.’ Etiquette is a set of “written and unwritten rules of conduct that make interactions run smoothly” (Witt 5). Witt further defines ‘business etiquette’ according to specific rules of conduct when interacting with others in the workplace. “Professionalism is “how you come across to others in the workplace” (Witt 9).
Following the definition of key terms, Witt focuses on specific scenarios in the workplace where business etiquette and professionalism are required. She breaks these scenarios down to ‘first impression,’ ‘introductions,’ ‘addressing individuals,’ and ‘conversation.’ Each scenario has a true or false question that helps to illustrate the proper etiquette needed in those situations. The simple daily greetings are important times to demonstrate professionalism and to exhibit appropriate business etiquette.
Etiquette is then further broken down into other more specific and complex scenarios like how to conduct oneself in the cubicle, or how to communicate via phone, both making calls and answering them, and how to send an email. These scenarios are also followed by true or false questions that serve to illustrate what is acceptable and what is not. The bottom line of all these scenarios is to be professional. Be straight to the point, be respectful, be polite, and communicate effectively and efficiently.
The final scenario is dinner etiquette, which has the most rules to abide by. Witt offers a diagram of the standard American dinner table following the rules of etiquette. She mentions things like, “order food that can be eaten with utensils,” and “do not talk with your mouth full” (35). She then expands on other things someone should not do in the workplace, or things that would hinder that image of professionalism. These include tips like, “do not gossip,” and do not use work time for personal things (39).
Finally, Witt outlines what to do when someone else in the workplace is not exhibiting professionalism, and the general guidelines are to handle this situation as one would any other situation: with proper etiquette and professionalism. Witt itemizes ‘job standards’ as well, which is in regards to attendance and work ethic. She ends the presentation with an image of shaking hands and the phrase, “Respect: Give it to Get it” (43).This is perhaps a catchphrase for business etiquette and professionalism in a very neat package. Business etiquette operates on the virtue of respect, and professionalism in the manifestation of that respect.
All in all, this presentation covers nearly everything that is needed to know about business etiquette and professionalism. The scenarios are relevant and specific, and the advice is easy to understand and follow. The sheer amount of focus that Witt puts on these scenarios reveals the high importance of etiquette in the work place. The presentation was informative and helpful in illustrating when business etiquette is called for and what it looks like. The slides were engaging and easy to read and understand. The scenarios were the most helpful as they illustrated etiquette in action and the theory was more easily applied.

Work Cited

Witt, Lisa. “Business Basics—Professionalism and Etiquette in the Workplace.” PDF. N.d. Web. 14 April 2015.