This document offers a comprehensive guide on professional etiquette and manners, highlighting the importance of soft skills in the workplace for career advancement. Key topics include respect, courtesy, effective communication, meeting protocols, and appropriate behavior in an office environment. It emphasizes that good manners and professional conduct create a positive work atmosphere and contribute to personal and organizational success.

1. Manners Matter
Learning Professional Etiquettes
Sharafat Ibn Mollah Mosharraf
Software Development Consultant
Bangladesh Computer Council
27 August 2020
Green University of Bangladesh

2. About Me
Sharafat Ibn Mollah Mosharraf
BS CSE (DU), MS CSE (BUET)
Software Development Consultant
Bangladesh e-Government ERP Project,
Bangladesh Computer Council
Founder & Chief Technology Officer,
Eximus Technologies
Ex-Senior Software Engineer,
Therap Services & Backpack Technologies
2
sharafat@eximustech.com
www.sharafat.co.uk

3. Overview
● Introduction to Professional Etiquettes and Manners
● Workplace Etiquettes and Manners
● Meeting Etiquettes and Manners
● Communication Etiquettes
● Office Bathroom Etiquettes
● Be a Leader, Not a Boss
● Conclusion
● QA Session
3

4. Introduction to
Professional Etiquettes and Manners
4

5. Etiquette
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● IPA: /ˈɛtɪˌkɛt/, /ˈɛtɪkɪt/
● িশষ্টাচার, আদব
● A set of rules that tells one what is proper
● Example: You use different types of knives and forks for different
types of food
○ This shows proper etiquette
○ It is not a bad manner to use your salad knife to cut your fish, you
would just not be following the etiquette

6. Manner
6
● IPA: /ˈmænə/
● আচার-ব্যবহার, রীিতনীিত
● A way of doing something to be polite, courteous, etc.
● Showing proper manners means making the person
around you not to feel bad
● Example: You say “please” and “thank you”
○ This shows good manner
○ You are not showing etiquette while doing this

7. Professional Etiquettes and Manners
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● Means being comfortable around people and making
them comfortable around you.
● These are about presenting yourself with polish and
professionalism that demonstrates you can be trusted and
taken seriously.

8. Why Professional Etiquettes and Manners Matter?
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● Etiquettes and Manners are soft skills
● Hard or technical skills can get you a job
● But what keeps you climbing the ladder of success are your
soft skills
● People often speak of good manners as an accomplishment
● One should speak of them as a duty
● It should be part of every formal training

9. Workplace Etiquettes and Manners
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10. “Treat people as if they were
what they ought to be
and you help them to become
what they are capable of
being”
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
German writer and statesman (1749–1832)
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11. Show Respect
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● Everyone deserves respect
● Address everyone formally until they ask you to use their first
name
● Make people feel valued
● Be the first to extend your hand for a handshake, and look the
person in the eye
● No matter whom you come in contact with, that person
deserves being treated with respect and dignity
● Even if you dislike someone for his or her behavior, you’ll
come out on top if you maintain a respectful manner

12. Show Courtesy
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● Say “please”, “thank you”, “sorry”, “excuse me”
● This makes people understand you appreciate what they can do
or have done for you
● Forgetting to say these shows lack of appreciation and concern
for others, which is disrespectful and degrading
● Showing respect and courtesy doesn’t mean you have to let
people step on you, but it does mean showing concern for their
feelings, respecting their opinions, and being honest with them
○ If you think someone is mistreating you, deal with it and tell them
(with courtesy) you won’t tolerate disrespect

13. Be Kind
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● Every living thing responds to kindness
● Use this skill for good results in handling people
● Help others whenever you possibly can
● Help juniors and subordinates
○ Don’t bully them or allow your peers to do so

14. Never Interrupt Someone
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● It’s always rude to interrupt
○ Especially when someone is making an important point or
addressing a group
● Walking unannounced or uninvited to someone’s office/room is
another form on interruption, and it makes a bad impression
● Always make sure the person is not busy when you want to talk

15. Refrain from Gossip
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● Keep gossip and hurtful information to yourself
● Do NOT spread rumors or encourage them
● Would you like someone gossip about you?

16. Respect Everyone’s Privacy
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● Do NOT eavesdrop on anyone
● Give each individual the space he or she is due
○ Just like you would expect to be given your own
space and privacy
● Never gawk on other employees workstations or
computer screens or cubicles
○ Always seek permission before entering a cubicle
or cabin.

17. Refrain from Office Politics
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● Indulging in office politics is against the accepted
norms of etiquettes
● Office politics is dangerous business

18. Maintain Integrity
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● When you make a promise or give your word, you
need to follow through it
● If you’re unable to keep the promise or fulfill the
commitment, you must be prepared to make
amendments and set things right
● REMEMBER - trust is fragile, very easily broken
and very very difficult to repair
● Only people with integrity are the people we can
trust

19. Mind Your Language
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● Your point won’t come across any better if you use rude, derogatory or obscene language, no
matter whom you’re addressing
● Talk like a professional and you’ll be seen and treated as one

20. Say NO to Gender Discrimination
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● Do not discriminate against female colleagues
● Respect them and acknowledge their contributions

21. Be Punctual
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● Don’t be late in office
○ It leaves a bad impression about your sincerity
● Don’t show up too early either
○ Arriving between 5 to 10 minutes before your
appointment or work time is ideal.
● Don’t miss deadlines
○ If you are running behind schedule, notify related
persons as soon as you realize that you won’t make it
on time.

22. Keep Your Productivity High
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● You’re paid to work, so work!
● No goofing in office hours!

23. Dress Appropriately
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● The first thing that people notice about others is their appearance
● It is the primary influence on first impressions
● Dressing smart shows that you put effort into your appearance and are more likely to put
the same enthusiasm into your work

24. Always Practice Good Hygiene
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● No matter what you wear, good hygiene is always a must
● Comb your hair
● Keep your beard tidy
● Clean your fingernails
● Make sure your clothes smell good
● No one wants to sit next to and work alongside someone
who smells like body odor and fried food

25. Don’t Misuse Office Equipment
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● It’s there to make your work easier, so use it judiciously
● Handle all office equipments carefully
● Care for it as you would for anything you owned
● Misuse of office equipment leads to breakdowns,
affecting your productivity
● Misuse of office equipment also includes using it for your
personal work
○ Office telephones, computers, photocopiers, transport and
stationary items etc. are meant for official use only
○ Avoid using those for your personal work
○ Respect the trust that your employer has placed in you, don’t
violate it

26. Meeting Etiquettes and Manners
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27. Be on Time
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● Prepare for the meeting ahead of time
● You don't want to waste anyone else's time by not being punctual
● Leaders need to start on time so people can depend on that

28. Make Introductions
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● If everyone doesn't know one another in the meeting room, you need to make introductions
● You should do this by starting with the person of the highest rank first
○ For example, "Ms. Greater Importance, I would like you to meet Mr. Lesser Importance."

29. Speak Up
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● Speak loudly enough so that everyone hears what
you’re saying
● Speaking softly is a subtle nonverbal action that can
affect your professionalism

30. Understand the Unwritten Speaking Rules
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● It's not polite to interrupt others, but in some meetings, you have to interrupt at some point or
you won't be heard
● Understand the rules so that you can have a productive meeting

31. Pay Attention - Do NOT Have Your Phone Out
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● A lot of people keep their phones on the table during meetings; even if you aren't looking at
your phone, it can get distracting if it starts lighting up or making noises
● Put it in your pocket, keep it on vibrate, and leave the room if you have to take the call or
return a text
● It's really, really rude to be texting during a meeting

32. Ask for Permission for Anything Other Than Coffee
32
● You can drink coffee or tea, but you need permission for anything else
● If you're going to eat, it needs to be OK with the entire group
○ You can make noise or give off smells that are disruptive
● You need to clean up after yourself and leave things the way you found them

33. Don't Save All Your Questions for the End
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● Ask your questions at the appropriate time
● Do not be the person who starts "asking questions and adding stuff that doesn't need to be
added" when everyone's getting ready to go

34. Communication Etiquettes
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35. Communication Etiquettes
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● Always speak politely. Listen to others attentively. A good
listener is always dear to everybody.
● Show interest in what other people are doing and make others
feel good.

36. Communication Etiquettes...
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● While speaking over phones, always greet the other
person while starting and ending the call.
● Speak only when the other person has finished
talking instead of interrupting in between.

37. Communication Etiquettes...
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● Stand about an arm’s length away while talking to
others.
● Make eye contact when talking to others.
● Question another person in a friendly, not prying,
manner.
● Keep your conversations short and to the point.

38. Communication Etiquettes...
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● Be polite. Avoid foul language, unkind statements,
and gossip.
● Maintain your sobriety and politeness even if the
person you’re speaking to speaks something
offensive or rude.
● Avoid replying back in harsh tone or words.

39. Email Etiquettes and Manners
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40. Office Bathroom Etiquettes
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42. Be a Leader, Not a Boss
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“People don’t leave their jobs, they leave their bosses.”

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51. Conclusion
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52. Key Take-Aways
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● Use common sense
● Before doing something, think whether you’d like it if someone else did it

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