Business etiquette is conduct prescribed by convention or by authority to be used while interacting with business associates. Business ethics is the principles of right or good conduct governing business people and organizations. Sound the same, don’t they? The definitions are almost identical but don’t confuse the two. Take the executive who has been educated in the best schools, knows where to shop and always looks his best. He’s comfortable dining in the finest restaurants and is at ease in all situations. He’s a natural salesman, networker and has a knack for remembering names. He’s driven to succeed and he will…at all costs. He may have been an Enron executive encouraging his employees to buy stock while he was selling. Then there’s another type executive. Maybe not quite as polished. A little less relaxed at the company cocktail party and may not end his career in the corner office. But his goals are customer and employee satisfaction. He’s honest and proud of the decisions he makes. He could use a little improvement in the business etiquette area, but he passes the mirror test. He can look at himself in the mirror without guilt. The most important difference between these two men is their business ethics. What is right and wrong is now a gray area for us. We rationalize everything from taking the new magazine from the doctor’s waiting area, to sharing our latest software to borrowing ink cartridges from the office by simply saying, “everyone does it.” These small acts with small consequences then become bigger acts with bigger consequences. Business etiquette experts can determine how polished we are by our behavior, our appearance and how we conduct ourselves when we are in the business environment. By definition, etiquette is the action or actions we take when we are with others. But only you can determine how ethical you are because unethical acts are performed in secrecy. That is, until you are caught or someone is hurt. Kenneth Blanchard, author of The Power of Ethical Management, suggests, when faced with an ethical question, to you give yourself an ethics check. The ethics check will help you sort out dilemmas by showing you how to examine an issue at different levels. Ask yourself: 1. Is it legal? Will I be violating either civil law or company policy? 2. Is it balanced? Is it fair to all concerned in the short term as well as the long term? Does it promote win-win relationships? 3. How will it make me feel about my self? Will it make me proud? Would I feel good if others knew? You can avoid ethical dilemmas at work by: Being fair and doing only what is right. Being honest and dealing justly. Being accountable and keeping your word. Being responsible so others know they can count on you. Committing to your tasks and to your people. Being loyal and standing by those you are committed to. Any executive can be a highly polished one. It takes an extraordinary executive to be a highly ethical one. Call us for Business Etiquette Training and Business Etiquette Training Materials 973-857-6200 etiquette@corbyoconnor.com ©Copyright 2008. CORBY O'CONNOR ETIQUETTE & PROTOCOL. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO PART OF THIS MATERIAL MAY BE REPRODUCED, STORED IN INFORMATION AND/OR RETRIEVAL SYSTEMS OR TRANSMITTED IN ANY WAY OR BY ANY MEANS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ELECTRONIC, MAGNETIC, DIGITAL, OPTICAL, LASER-BASED, MECHANICAL OR OTHERWISE,WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM CORBY O'CONNOR ETIQUETTE & PROTOCOL.