Class of undergraduate students majoring in Management at SBM ITB participated in a special event on Monday, 11/28/2022. All students dress formally.
They wear suits, blazers, and shirts. This is because they are taking the Business Etiquette & Professional Grooming class with guest lecturer Fardila Astari, Communication Director of Rajawali Foundation, Vice Secretary General of PERHUMAS, and Marketing Director of the Wearing Mask Movement.
“Business etiquette is a set of rules and manners that one must follow while operating in the business world,” he said at the start of class.
Business ethics are important because they create an atmosphere of professionalism and mutual respect and promote communication, which helps the office to function as a productive place. People feel better about their jobs when they feel respected, which means better customer relationships.
Fardila described the importance of business etiquette in four points. First, branding. Our attitudes, behavior, and decisions reflect the background we have. If we behave well, other people will judge us well because of our parents’ upbringing, school, and even where we were born.
Second, customer care. The best way to show customers they are valued is to treat them with respect and care.
Third employee engagement. Good behavior will help increase morale and trust between employees and team members.
Finally, team synergy. Good manners will help establish a smooth working relationship with the team, contributing to greater productivity.
Fardila mentioned that business ethics consists of several types. The first is business body language. Our body language plays a vital role in business. People do business with people they feel comfortable with. Making small body language adjustments can boost your confidence and improve your professional relationships and job performance.
Second, business dress ethics. There are Business-Formal, Business, Business Casual, Smart Casual, and Casual dress codes. If we want to attend a business meeting or meet a new client, we are encouraged to wear business-formal attire to gain and provide better trust from the client.
The third is business card ethics. Even in 2022, business cards are still relevant, but only the best business cards will see results. There is some basic information that you should always include. Name, title, and company must appear on every business card.
Next is business manners for job interviews. The impression you make on the interviewer often outweighs your true credentials.
Your poses, stance, basic social skills, and communication skills are evaluated along with your experience and education.
Then there’s the business dinner etiquette. You may need to attend business dinners for various reasons throughout your career. Client meetings, team bonding, interviews, and networking events can occur over a meal. To impress your company, it’s essential to practice your manners.
Lastly, business communication ethics. Verbal and nonverbal communication are equally important. So, we must pay attention to every sentence and every movement we make when speaking.
There is a lot of helpful knowledge channeled through practices in this class. For example, Fardila gave examples of how to walk correctly when entering a room, shake hands with other people, introduce yourself straightforwardly, build confidence in public speaking, and practice expressiveness in speaking.
