Graphic Credit: Katie Skow at Entrepreneur Goddess

Have you ever had a business meeting where you felt like the other person was not really interested in what you had to say? Have you ever left a business meeting and thought I will never do business with that person or company again. Or, have you ever noticed the person did not really appear to be completely sure of what he or she was talking about? I think we have all been there at some point or another. Situations like these are a waste of our time, their time, and should be avoided. While it is impossible to control the situation from the other side, here are a few tips in business etiquette that may help you land a business deal:

First and foremost, it is important to walk into a business meeting, or any meeting for that matter, with CONFIDENCE. Know who you are and be comfortable in your own skin. If you are not confident, people can easily pick up on this and may be reluctant to do business with you.

Another vital key is to use COMMON SENSE at all times of your life. This is particularly important if you are in a business meeting and want to see that person or company again.

Turn off your phone or set the ring to silent. Fielding or answering incoming calls, checking your email, or text messaging during a meeting is rude and inconsiderate. It communicates you have better things to see and do rather than give full attention to those you are meeting. I have been stuck in meetings with people doing all of these things and I find that they are not fully attentive and sometimes miss very important points. If you must leave your cell phone on, check your email, or answer a phone call the appropriate thing to do is apologize in advance to the person you are meeting.

Make eye contact. Why is everyone so afraid of eyes? You do not have to maintain eye contact every second, but several sources recommend eye contact 80 to 90 percent of the time.This is easier if you are with a person or a group one-on-one in a conference room or office. However, if you are meeting in a public place such as a coffee shop or restaurant, it is even more important to take extra care and not be distracted by the your surroundings (you know, all those crazy people having silly conversations around you).

Posture goes in hand with eye contact. Keep your back straight and head up. Be sure to communicate you are fully present and interested in what the other person has to say. Do not to slouch, turn your body away from the person, or hold your head down.

Speech. Avoid cursing, using slang, fillers, and words including like and you know and totally. Save it for the mall or wine with your girlfriends…like, you know? Totally!

Gossiping about others during business meetings should be strictly prohibited. For the record, I also advise against vicious gossip in your private life as well. If someone is trash talking another person in front of you, what are they saying about you behind your back? Never say anything negative about someone that you would not want repeated in front of that person. If you do not have something nice to say, do not say it at all. I’m sure you have heard that one before today! But if you feel you must say something, try to remain diplomatic at all times.

Throw out your gum before the meeting and do not talk or chew food with your mouth open. Gross. Need I say more?

Act how you would like people to remember you. Be poised, polite, and polished while exuding confidence. However, don’t pretend to know-it-all (you really do not know everything) because nobody likes people who act like that. Also, avoid any and all tacky or impolite behavior.

Follow these guideline with common sense and watch your small business grow!

For more information on how to find business clients, check out this previous post.

Enjoy the journey,

Katie Skow
Entrepreneur Goddess

While I am extremely picky about which books I recommend to readers, The Anti 9 to 5 Guide: practical career advice for women who think outside the cube is a must-read for any woman entrepreneur who has already ventured out on her own or is thinking about going solo. Michelle Goodman steps out from the traditional as well as time consuming how -to – the -career -of -your -dreams textbook style to provide us with a helpful, yet humorous, step-by-step guide for career independence.

Goodman had me hooked beginning with her “career quiz for women who can’t stand career quizzes.” Only seven questions long, this quiz can be a quick and excellent way to translate small parts of your daily life into career opportunity. Here are a few of my favorite questions (Goodman helps you along by giving her answers to these questions):

1. What’s on your nightstand? What books and magazines you’re reading can be pretty telling about what turns your crank.

(As an example, my nightstand’s brimming with issues of The Bark, my favourite dog magazine; Swivel, a literary journal of women’s humour writing; and whatever book about tortured adolescence I’m currently reading — at the moment, The Liars’ Club — all of which could lead one to speculate that I’m a witty dog owner with a fair amount of baggage. Perhaps, though, your nightstand runneth over with a couple dozen issues of National Geographic and Shutterbug, in which case I’d wager that you’re a travel-photography buff.)

2. Out of all your friends’ jobs, which one are you most jealous of? Why?

(I’m most jealous of the dog-walkers I know. They spend their days getting the blood pumping, getting muddy, and interacting with colleagues who are always happy to see them. What’s not to love?)

3. What’s the one off-the-wall, pie-in-the-sky job you’ve always wanted to try that no one knows about?

(I have this fantasy where I get hired to work as a personal assistant to a lavishly wealthy person. I swear. Maybe some Hollywood debutante with a $13 million estate overlooking the Pacific who just keeps me around so I can run her errands, schedule her spa appointments, and weigh in on how great her emaciated butt looks in her new $350 jeans.)

Throughout the book, Goodman provides checklists in each chapter with lists of what you need to do in order to accomplish your goal of self-employment. I also appreciate that she recognizes not everyone can simply drop what she is doing and become an entrepreneur overnight. Goodman provides tried and true tips and advice for slowing working your way towards being an entrepreneur goddess.

This book is a must-read for any entrepreneur goddess! Grab it and read.