Attitude,
Etiquette
and
Corporate Behaviour
Do’s and Don’ts
Dr Karunakaran

"Empty Your Cup" is a fundamental life concept and a
central one to martial arts. In learning and education also

• In the movie ‘The Forbidden Kingdom,’ one
lesson that Jackie Chan was teaching his
student :
• The Kung Fu student constantly spoke about all
the various styles of martial arts – Karate,
Jujitsu, Taekwondo, Crane, Snake, etc. – and
Jackie Chan asked him to hold out his cup.
• The student did so and Jackie Chan started
pouring water into it. When it started
overflowing, the student said that his cup was
full and Jackie could stop.

• Jackie Chan kept pouring and the student
said it was overflowing.
• That was when Jackie Chan responded by
asking:
• “How can I fill your cup
if it is already filled?”

• The cup represented the student’s brain – a
vessel for knowledge – and it was Jackie
Chan’s job as the teacher to fill it. But the
student already believed he knew
everything and his vessel was full.
• Anything he would now be taught would
merely overflow and he would not learn
anything new. ( – Attitude)
• You believe that your cup is already full and
so your mind is not open to learning new
things. Empty your cup first ( + Attitude)

Attitude
• A settled way of thinking or feeling
about something.
• "he was questioned on his attitude to the job"
• synonyms: point of view, viewpoint, frame of
mind, way of thinking, way of looking at
things, outlook, perspective, inclination
• Snobbish, ‘high & mighty’ attitude : WRONG

Internship
• Extension of academic curriculum
• Practical and experiential learning
• Paid or unpaid
• Learning experience more important
than money
• Chance to get placed in the company
• Go with an empty cup ( + Attitude)

• Positive attitude in life – for success
• A positive attitude in the workplace helps
employees to accomplish tasks faster and in a
better manner.
• A positive attitude has significant benefits for
an individual in many aspects.
• A positive attitude helps you to learn

• Major Job Attitudes
• Job Satisfaction.
• Job Involvement.
• Psychological Empowerment.
• Organizational Commitment.
• Perceived Organizational Support (POS)
• Employee Engagement.( emotional
commitment)
• Learning professional skills – start
from the bottom and proceed up

Etiquette - Meaning, its Need and
Types of Etiquettes
• What is Etiquette ?
• Etiquette is defined as good behaviour which
distinguishes human beings from animals.
• Human Being is a social animal and it is really
important for him to behave in an appropriate way.
• Etiquette refers to behaving in a socially
responsible way.
• Etiquette refers to guidelines which control the
way a responsible individual should behave in the
society.

Need for Etiquette
• Etiquette makes you a cultured individual who leaves his
mark wherever he goes.
• Etiquette teaches you the way to talk, walk and most
importantly behave in the society.
• Etiquette is essential for a good first impression. The way
you interact with your superiors, parents, fellow workers,
friends speak a lot about your personality and up-
bringing.
• Etiquette enables the individuals to earn respect and
appreciation in the society. No one would feel like talking
to a person who does not know how to speak or behave in
the society. Etiquette inculcates a feeling of trust and
loyalty in the individuals. One becomes more responsible
and mature. Etiquette helps individuals to value
relationships.

Types of Etiquette
• Social Etiquette- Social etiquette is important for
an individual as it teaches him how to behave in
the society.
• Corporate Etiquette- Corporate Etiquette refers
to how an individual should behave while he is at
work. Each one needs to maintain the decorum
of the organization.
• Business Etiquette- Business Etiquette includes
ways to conduct a certain business. Don’t ever
cheat customers. It is simply unethical.
• To conclude, etiquette transforms a man into a
gentleman/ a woman into a lady.

Corporate Etiquette - Do’s and Dont’s
• An individual must know how to behave at the
workplace. There is a huge difference between college
and professional life. One needs to be disciplined at the
workplace.
• Corporate Etiquette refers to set of rules an individual
must follow while he is at work. One must respect his
organization and maintain the decorum of the place.
• Corporate Etiquette refers to behaving sensibly and
appropriately at the workplace to create a good
impression. No one would take you seriously if you do
not behave well at the workplace. Remember we can’t
behave the same way at work place as we behave at
our home and colleges. One needs to be professional
and organized.
• It is important to behave well at the workplace to earn
respect and appreciation.

Let us go through some Do’s and
Don’ts at workplace:
• Never adopt a casual attitude at work. You are there
to work and not for loitering around.
• Don’t peep into other’s cubicles and workstations.
Knock before entering anyone’s cabin. Respect each
other’s privacy.
• Put your hand phone in the silent or vibrating mode
at the workplace. Loud ring tones are totally
unprofessional and also disturb other people.
• Don’t open anyone else’s notepads registers or files
without his permission.
• It is bad manners to sneeze or cough in public without
covering your mouth. Use a handkerchief or tissue for
the same.

• Popping chewing gums in front of co workers is
simply not expected out of a professional.
• Stay away from nasty politics at the workplace.
Avoid playing blame games.
• Keep your workstation clean and tidy. Throw
unwanted paper in dustbin and keep files in their
respective drawers. Put a label on top of each file
to avoid unnecessary searching.
• Never criticize or make fun of any of your
colleagues.
• Take care of your pitch and tone at the
workplace. Never shout on anyone or use foul
words. It is unprofessional to lash out at others
under pressure. Stay calm and think rationally.

• Never attend meetings without a notepad and
pen. It is little tough to remember each and
everything discussed in the meeting. Jot down
the important points for future reference. Wait
for your turn to speak.
• Reach office on time. One must adhere to the
guidelines and policies of the organization.
Discipline must be maintained at the workplace.
• No organization likes to have a shabbily dressed
employee. Shave daily and do not use strong
perfumes.
• Never wear revealing clothes to work. Body
piercing and tattoo are a strict no no at the
workplace. Ladies should avoid wearing heavy
jewellery to work.

• Don’t pass lewd comments to any of your
fellow workers.
• Respect your fellow workers and help them
whenever required.
• It is unethical to share confidential data with
external parties and any other individual who
is not related to the organization. Data in any
form must not be passed to anyone outside
the organization.
• Office Stationery is meant to be used only at
work. Taking any office property back home is
equivalent to stealing.

• Make sure you turn off the monitor while you go
out for lunch or tea breaks. Switch off the fans,
lights, printer, fax machine, scanner before you
leave for the day.
• Don’t bring your personal work to office. Avoid
taking kids to office unless and until there is an
emergency. Dont stick to your mobile.
• Park you car at the space allocated to you. Don’t
park your vehicle at the entrance as it might
obstruct someone’s way.
• Never ever drink while you are at work. Smoke
only at the smoking zones.
• Do not leave the restroom with taps on.
• Female Employees should stick to minimal make
up.

Interacting with Co-Workers
• An individual all alone finds it difficult to
survive at the workplace.
• One needs to be a good team player to make
his mark at the workplace.
• He needs to interact with his fellow workers
and share ideas to reach to better solutions.
• It is essential to maintain healthy
relationships with fellow workers as an
individual spends his maximum time at the
workplace.

• Respect your fellow workers. Misbehaving
with colleagues spoils the ambience and leads
to negativity all around. Treat all co workers as
one irrespective of their race, caste,
nationality, designation etc.
• Spreading baseless rumours about fellow
workers is something which is not at all
expected out of a professional.

• Be cordial to all. Greet everyone with a smile. It is
bad manners to make faces at others. Learn to be
a little more adjusting. Things don’t always go
your way. Do not take things to heart.
• Help your colleagues in whatever way you can.
Never give them any wrong suggestions. You will
like your job more if you have a friend at the
workplace.
• Be polite to your fellow workers. If someone
shouts on you, never shout back on him. Don’t do
what others do. You will not become small if you
say “sorry”.

• Never overreact. It pays to be calm and
composed at the workplace.
• Avoid taking sides at the workplace. Don’t
ask for personal favours from any of your
fellow workers.
• Avoid being rude to anyone. You never know
when you might need any of your fellow
workers. Never lash out at others under
pressure.

• Never interfere in your colleague’s work. It is bad
manners to open anyone else’s envelopes or
check fellow worker’s emails. Respect your
colleague’s privacy. Do not peep into anyone
else’s cubicles. Knock before entering your boss’s
cabin.
• Never make fun of any one at the workplace.
• It is bad manners to overhear anyone else’s
conversation.
• Avoid criticizing others. One needs to be flexible
at the workplace. Being rigid spoils relationships.
• Boss is always Right

Your attitude decides your altitude

Change your attitude into the POSITIVE
1. I should do it
2. I can do it
3. I will do it