How To Increase Your Competitive Advantage By Leveraging Business Etiquette And Professionalism

The importance of business etiquette and professionalism has never been so evident in the business world than these times of economic turbulence.

Although some savvy business people have been smart enough to be leveraging the powers of business etiquette and professionalism and reaping its benefits, a majority of entrepreneurs, sadly, have been blindly pushing their businesses on clients and customers who over and over again come and go making it impossible for them to establish a well grounded business with a loyal customer base.

What these business owners and entrepreneurs fail to realize is that as individual human beings we are always resistant to force in any kind, shape or form especially when it comes to us having to part with our hard earned money.

Also, human beings will forever remain human beings, it does not matter how many stages of evolution we go through, how advanced technology gets or even how great your product or service may be, we shall always seek a sense of belonging, feel the need to be valued, respected and recognized before we trust anybody to enter a transaction with.

All the same, no matter how hard the world economy gets, human beings will do all within their means and power to meet their need in order to survive in this world.

However, this time, with more scrutiny, reflection, care and attention in order not to make costly decisions and purchases hence the need for business owners and entrepreneurs to leverage the power of business etiquette and professionalism more than ever before.

It is therefore very necessary now for the business owner and entrepreneur to think first of how to build an impeccable reputation and image because no matter what great systems or strategies you may have for your business, if you do not have a good reputation and image you will be losing out in the game of business.

Also, regardless of how great your product or service may be that you feel the need to share with the world, the first thought that must come to your mind as a business owner or entrepreneur is “quality relationships!”

This is because, human beings by nature would rather buy from somebody they know or has been strongly recommended to and that is even intense now with this economic situation.

Luckily, business etiquette and professionalism enables you to gain that competitive edge over your competition by helping you be the winner and preferred choice in your industry.

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Tags: and, business, etiquette, professionalism

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Comment by JenniferLynn Productions on July 20, 2009 at 10:28am: I think Dave Saunders has it right back on page 1 of the comments with his sentiment that we should be authentic. Absolutely, 100% true! If you are "faking it," people will know. Don't force anything. Be yourself. Your most PROFESSIONAL self.

As for appearance, I tend to feel that one should look put together, even if that means jeans and sneakers. Make sure your jeans and sneakers are clean and neat-looking. Make sure you at least coordinate. If wearing jeans, at least wear a work top or sweater, instead of a T-shirt. (I'm speaking as an artist--we don't wear suits, generally.)

As for speech, I think it probably helps to think through an upcoming meeting and maybe run through some practice scenarios: "How will I handle this question? What if they say (x)?" ...etc. Don't memorize a script, but definitely be prepared, so that you're not hemming and hawing at the client.

Jennifer Moore
JenniferLynn Productions, LLC

Comment by Rita Mylett on July 7, 2009 at 8:35am: Excellent advice, appearance, dress, body language the ability to communicate and articulate your message is the difference that makes the difference.

Comment by Joseph Hall on July 6, 2009 at 5:20pm: How To Increase Your Competitive Advantage By Leveraging Business Etiquette And Professionalism
All business should present a professional front. Very few do and ihey go out of business about as fast as they start up. The ones that last are the ones that train their employees to treat any potential customer like someone they truly want to help.

The appearence of the potential customer should have no bearing on how they are treated.

If you are a service company that gos to a customers home, the vehicles should be clean and well cared for. The service person should be uniformed. clean, neat, and very courteous.

Comment by MARY MCKINNEY on July 6, 2009 at 1:32am: Bravo! Common Courtesy, Turn the other cheek, and "If you can't say something nice..."

Comment by EntrepreneursCoachGarethEmberton on July 5, 2009 at 2:32pm: Professional perhaps but it is about being congruent and having the right persona which will give you the psoture to be professional

Get that right and professionalism comes naturally

Comment by Chris Cannon on July 4, 2009 at 8:02am: Excellent article! This is what separates the average from the exceptional. Most people have a degree of selfishness to them, and professionalism allows you to naturally appeal to that side of existing or potential customers. I see this constantly with those that hire me to speak and operating with professionalism has proven to be most rewarding. Keep up the great work!

www.Fighting4Youth.com

Comment by Laura Garaycochea on July 3, 2009 at 1:17pm: An acquaintance of mine once said that we should ask ourselves if we are the kinds of people others would want to do business with ... and ... if anything comes up that is on the "not" side of things, those are the things we want to begin working on our personal development to improve. This business is so incredible for lasting life changes. Anyone that loves self-development is in the right place here.

Comment by Bishweshwor Prasad Bista on July 3, 2009 at 12:21pm: I appreciate Marjorie for focusing on human interest and great plausible thought for clean business environment...

Comment by James Bryant on July 3, 2009 at 11:56am: Good information! I feel that you make larger strides in any form of business when you present yourself in a professional manner. Stay focused, motivated and God bless!

Comment by Bob Goggins on July 2, 2009 at 2:39pm: Dress for success should not ever go out of style. It has changed and maybe some what more casual. Casul does not mean jeans, shorts sandals or tee shirts wth with or without holes in any of them. Youhopefully will not be way over dressed for your clients or customers but never under dress them. They do not have to impress you do. I used to be a Manfacture rep. for several plumbing lines have to go a service call with my pl;umbers to explain why there was no problem with the product or the installation. The consumer would not take the word of the plumber who installed 100 a tear and been doing for at least 10 years but yet take my word al;l because I had a tie and jacket on and never installed one of them oin my life. It' best if you know what you are talking about but just as important you have to look the part.