Workplace Etiquette
What's your business etiquette like?
To be professional at all times. I like to stay poised polished and professional and I should give credit to a friend of mine who's an attorney who taught me that way back in the beginning when I first started doing trial work. And he said Steph just remember to be poised polished and professional at all times you can never go wrong no one can ever fault you for it and if you just remember that mantra you'll be set. So I always tell people poised polished and professional always in all circumstances no matter how moldy your suit is and I say that from having lived outside during the Apprentice. No matter how much dirt or mud maybe on your heels no matter what just happened you could have spilled coffee on your chest and you're wearing a white suit you still carry it off like it just doesn't even matter you're just here to do your job and it's all under control.
Do men and women follow different etiquette in the workplace?
We, as women, sometimes have a chip on our shoulder. I think we're trying to compete with the men. I'm not sure if it's the need to prove that we're better than everyone else. I don't know what it is; it's just something I've observed. There's no need for it. Women are great. We have so much that we balance on a daily basis as wives, as mothers, as sisters, as professionals - no matter what it is. So I think that in the workplace women tend to be a little more emotional than the men are. I think that might be a disadvantage. Sometimes it's an advantage, but for the most part, it seems to be not an advantageous trait. So I would say keep your emotions in check. The crying in the workplace: not attractive. Doesn't really get you far. Maybe I'm insensitive in the way, but I don't think that that's something that should be in the workplace at all. I think that your etiquette as a female should be with the understanding that we're all different. You bring certain great attributes to whatever workplace you're in. As long as you keep your emotions in check, that's the way to do it. Be polite. No one can ever fault you for being polite.
