Want to get ahead in your career? Having technical proficiency at your job is just the tip of the iceberg – you also need to understand the unwritten rules of workplace etiquette.
At Slouch, we spend our days thinking about what makes offices work better. And while having a comfortable, ergonomic workspace is important, mastering workplace etiquette is another completely different aspect of working life you also need to consider.
From managing your digital presence to navigating office politics with grace, Slouch, the home office chair and desk experts will take you through 50 helpful office etiquette tips.
What is workplace etiquette?
While your employer may have set rules like a dress code, workplace etiquette is the unwritten rules that help make the office a respectful and productive environment. While these rules aren’t explicitly stated, they are often an unspoken requirement that ensure everyone gets along both online and in person.
We’ve rounded up a comprehensive list to help you understand how to play your part and be everyone’s favourite colleague. Let’s get started.
Communication fundamentals
Good communication etiquette in the workplace can make or break professional relationships. Here’s what you need to know.
- Think before you CC – Don’t copy people into emails unless they really need to be involved, otherwise you’re just giving them more emails to wade through to get to their crucial comms.
- Master the art of active listening – Put your phone down and truly focus on what others are saying, giving them feedback cues that you’re listening.
- Watch your non-verbal behaviour – Your facial expressions and posture speak as loudly as your words. Maintain open body language, especially during challenging conversations.
- Take responsibility for miscommunications – If there’s a misunderstanding, own your part in it. Be accountable when things go wrong, it will help diffuse frustrations more than attempting to cover it up.
In-person office protocol
Nobody wants to be that colleague who has the messy desk or noisy working habits that get on everyone’s nerves. These in-person workplace etiquette tips will ensure you’re a pleasure to work in an office with.
- Keep a tidy office – A tidy office isn’t just about looks, it also helps everyone stay focused and undistracted. Plus, nobody wants to stare at yesterday’s coffee cups all day!
- Consider your sound levels – Don’t let your noise encroach on your colleagues’ headspace. Use headphones for calls and music and ensure any chit-chat is kept to a reasonable volume, especially if you work in an open-plan office.
- Be mindful about food – As a general workplace etiquette rule, try to avoid bringing strong-smelling foods into the office as a courtesy to others. While you may be a fan of tuna pasta, not everyone is.
- Respect shared spaces – Whether it’s the kitchen or meeting rooms, always leave shared spaces as you’d like to find them. A quick wipe-down or tidy-up goes a long way.
- Mute notifications – Constant pings and beeps from notifications are a major office distraction. Mute non-essential ones to avoid annoying your coworkers.
Professional appearance
How you present yourself can help ensure you’re taken more seriously at work, or cause you to lose respect. Here’s how to make sure it’s not the latter.
- Match the dress code – Make sure your clothing is in sync with your workplace culture, whether that’s business casual or formal. If you’re unsure, it’s often better to be slightly overdressed than underdressed – at least according to fashion guru Christian Siriano.
- Maintain good hygiene – It’s a common courtesy to be well-groomed when you’re going to be in close confines with people. This means coming to work with fresh breath and clean clothes – no exceptions.
- Keep scents subtle – What smells lovely to you might trigger headaches for others. Use perfume and aftershave in moderation.
- Work from home when ill – If you can, it’s good workplace etiquette to work from home while you’re ill to avoid spreading it to workmates.
Meeting manners
Love them or hate them, meetings are a crucial part of most working professionals’ lives. These are our tips on how to present well in them.
- Arrive properly prepared – Get there a few minutes early with everything you need. Flying into the room flustered and without everything you need sets a bad impression.
- Stay engaged – It’s painfully obvious when someone’s secretly checking emails or messaging so avoid it if you don’t want to offend the people you’re meeting with.
- Balance speaking and listening– Studies show women are interrupted in professional meetings twice as often as men. Practise good workplace etiquette by being mindful of this and letting others finish their point before you start.
- Complete follow-up actions promptly – If you say you’ll send something after the meeting, do it immediately wherever possible.
- Respect everyone’s time – If you’re running the meeting, start and end on schedule wherever possible. People have other places to be, and things to do – so respect their time.
Digital etiquette
With so much of our work happening online, email etiquette in the workplace has never been more important. Here’s how to maintain professionalism in the digital space:
- Keep messages clear and concise – Long, rambling emails waste everyone’s time so get to the point efficiently.
- Double-check recipients – Avoid the dreaded ‘reply all’ mistake by double-checking your recipients before you press send.
- Consider tone carefully – What sounds fine in your head might come across differently in writing so make sure you’re respectful and always do a proofread before sending.
- Format for readability – Use paragraphs and bullet points to make your message easy to scan.
Hybrid etiquette
The rise of hybrid working brings its own set of etiquette challenges. Here’s how to handle them.
- Be clear about your location – Keep your calendar updated so colleagues know when you’re working remotely and when you’re in the office.
- Stay visible when remote – This means making an effort to contribute in virtual meetings as much as you would in person. Being remote shouldn’t diminish your contributions.
- Be responsive – Not being in the office shouldn’t make you unreachable to colleagues. Follow up on any comms swiftly to stay reachable.
- Keep your camera on – If you’re on a video call, you should always have your camera on as it allows the person you’re meeting with to get visual feedback from your body language and facial expressions.
Social behaviour tips
Professional relationships need careful navigation – get them right and work life becomes infinitely smoother. Here’s how to strike the right balance.
- Respect personal boundaries – Whether it’s physical space, private conversations, or personal information, know where to draw the line. Not everyone wants to share details about their weekend or join after-work socials.
- Handle conflicts professionally – Address disagreements directly with the person involved rather than gossiping or complaining to others. Keep emotions in check and focus on solutions.
- Skip the office gossip – Proper workplace etiquette means choosing not to participate in or spread rumours, even if others do, as it’s not professional.
- Time your work comms – Avoid sending non-urgent messages outside work hours out of respect for others and their work-life boundaries.
For office furniture with class, think Slouch
We hope you’ve learned a thing or two that will help you get ahead at work. For office furniture that will keep you comfortable in all of your efforts to be your best work self, browse our full range of office chairs and office desks.
Contact the friendly experts at [email protected] if you have any questions or queries about our office furniture.
