Usually, in a large meeting, there is a facilitator who is responsible in ensuring smooth flow of discussions and preventing conflicts and arguments from arising. Now, if you are a business owner who has just put up a business, you probably are your company’s sole representative, which means that you will handle the job of a facilitator. Here is a list of proper etiquette you should be aware of when conducting meetings.

1. First of all, never be late for a meeting. Doing so would speak very negatively of you. If the meeting is set at three o’clock, be there at least 5 minutes earlier. This way you can have sufficient time to prepare for the agenda.

2. Dress appropriately. Even if you will only be meeting in a coffee shop somewhere it does not mean it is proper to wear a shirt and a pair of jeans. Taking the time to dress smartly will definitely make a good first impression and will speak a lot about your level of professionalism.

3. Always be courteous throughout the meeting, and this is especially true if you are the one trying to win a client or making a sale. Being rude and argumentative will not get you anywhere. Avoid interrupting the other person when he is talking, and be attentive. When you are distracted and keep looking elsewhere instead of the person you are having a meeting with, this will give the impression that you do not care at all about what he has to say.

4. Make a list of what needs to be discussed. This will make the meeting easier and smoother, because you will have a guide that will prevent you from getting sidetracked. The problem with not having a list is that you could easily get off topic and before you know it, you have already wasted an entire hour talking about pointless matters and not even able to get any of your objectives accomplished.

5. At the end of the meeting, make sure to summarize everything that has been said, including any agreements that were made to ensure that both parties are clear on every detail that was tackled during the meeting. Regardless of the outcome- whether positive or negative, stay composed and friendly. And with a firm handshake, thank the other person for his time.

Never Burn Bridges

Some people get easily disappointed when a meeting does not turn out well, which can be evident in their words and facial expressions. Do not feel bad about not being able to get a positive outcome because it is not all the time that you will be able to win new clients or customers, anyway. Do not burn bridges but instead make it a point to maintain cordial relationships because you might just have another business encounter with them in the future.

Understanding what is meant by “appropriate work attire” will help us know what to wear and what not to wear in the office.

For corporate offices, it is always recommended to wear business attire. Ladies should wear pants or skirts, over collared tops. Sleeved dresses of appropriate lengths are also good. Earth shades, and black and white combinations are best for a corporate look. Shoes should be heeled; bright colors are best avoided for footwear. Men appear decent in pants and long sleeves, with well-polished shoes. They say that your “hairdo” is a statement in itself and by having a neatly done “do,” one can easily help you achieve a “corporate look.”

For casual offices such as those that do not come face to face with clients and customers, like BPO offices, it is not necessary to wear formal attire. Slacks and tops will do for women, and jeans and polo shirts are good for men. As long as the clothes you wear are not too revealing or too casual, it is perfectly all right. The problem with casual environments is that people tend to abuse their privileges in terms of what they should wear. Women report to work wearing sheer blouses or very short skirts, while men just wear tattered jeans and slip-ons. These do not speak highly of the person at all.

Below are No-No’s for work attire:

1.Showy belts

2.Slippers

3.Scuffed shoes

4.Body and face piercings

5.Showing tattoos

6.Ripped jeans

7.Very tight pants and tops

8.Shirts with offensive prints

Wearing the any of these clothes and accessories are going to give people you work with the impression that you are not a very professional person. If you have tattoos in your body, you need to keep them hidden while in the workplace.

Why Do You Need to Dress Appropriately in the Workplace?

Your manner of dressing reflects the kind of person you are. Sloppy dressers are perceived as lazy and irresponsible individuals, even if it is not really the case. If you dress well, you give an aura of confidence and will command respect from the people you work with. You will be looked up to as a person who knows exactly how to carry herself. Have you ever wondered why confident people are the ones who dress well? Or how others can get away with nervousness by just putting on great corporate attire on their first day of work? Have you had an extremely bad day because you realized you wore such a sloppy outfit, or a really good day because many people complimented you on how great you look in that new skirt? That is just the way it is, and the sooner you believe it, the better.