Business Etiquette Tips Q and A
Q. – Chair Woman?
We were having a conversation in our office last week about traditional male/female roles and etiquette in the business environment. Our female administrative assistant was offended that none of our male co-workers offered up their chair to her during our staff meeting held over lunch.
I recall from your presentation that men and women should be treated equally in the work place.
This topic comes up fairly often. Please help us with this delicate situation.
– Ima Standing in Calgary
A. – Dear Ima
Chivalry in the work place.
The key difference between business and social etiquette is that social etiquette is based on chivalry and dating manners. Men offer up their chairs to a woman, help her with her coat and rise when a woman leaves the table.
You are correct in your understanding that business etiquette is a level playing field which means that men and women are now treated as peers and equals.
Rank not gender
Business etiquette has military origins and is based on hierarchy, power and rank rather than gender. For example, we demonstrate deference by mentioning the highest ranking person’s name first when making introduction.
Equal but considerate
Having said that, it is also is important to demonstrate uncommon courtesy to all and make sure that everyone feels included. We call that practicing the ‘host mentality’, asking yourself, how would a host behave.
Sometimes when the majority of employees in an office are from the same profession, say all accountants, it’s not uncommon for the lone administrative assistant to feel excluded.
Unofficial hosts
Either the men or the women in your office could have invited her to join them and made room for her by adjusting their chairs. If you were getting yourself a coffee, you would ask if you could bring one back for her and others.
If you think about how you would like to be treated in any given situation, you will rarely go wrong.