Gracious Eloise
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“… if you have a good idea go for it, if you need help ask for it and if you fall down, take a moment feel the pain, move through it and get up and try again. That is what makes truly great entrepreneurs. ” -Eloise Bune, Founder + CEO of Gracious Eloise
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According to INC.com manners still matter - and we agree!
Business Etiquette: 5 Rules That Matter Now
The word may sound stodgy. But courtesy and manners are still essential—particularly in business.
But the concept of etiquette is still essential, especially now—and particularly in business. New communication platforms, like Facebook and Linked In, have blurred the lines of appropriateness and we’re all left wondering how to navigate unchartered social territory.The word “etiquette” gets a bad rap. For one thing, it sounds stodgy and pretentious. And rules that are socially or morally prescribed seem intrusive to our sense of individuality and freedom.
At Crane & Co., we have been advising people on etiquette for two centuries. We have even published books on the subject —covering social occasions, wedding etiquette and more.
Boil it down and etiquette is really all about making people feel good. It’s not about rules or telling people what to do, or not to do, it’s about ensuring some basic social comforts.
So here are a few business etiquette rules that matter now—whatever you want to call them.
1. Send a Thank You Note
I work at a paper company that manufactures stationery and I’m shocked at how infrequently people send thank you notes after interviewing with me. If you’re not sending a follow-up thank you note to Crane, you’re not sending it anywhere.
But the art of the thank you note should never die. If you have a job interview, or if you’re visiting clients or meeting new business partners—especially if you want the job, or the contract or deal—take the time to write a note. You’ll differentiate yourself by doing so and it will reflect well on your company too.
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”One bit of advice I would share with women who experience success is to keep going. Keep trying new things and taking new risks. If you’ve achieved success once, you obviously have what it takes to do it again. Whether that means starting something completely new, or simply taking your current venture to new heights, don’t give in to the apparent comforts of complacency”.
Gloria Rajkumar, President & CEO SIMAC
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In an Era of Technology, Relationships Still Rule
The Internet and other technology breakthroughs have fundamentally changed the way we do business. New technology is being created at warp speed, and customers expect your immediate response. This cycle of ever-increasing speed and sophistication not only creates an intensely competitive marketplace, but places further demands on our companies to act and react quickly.
But whether a business is ultra-high tech or low tech, the most important business decisions are still based on personal relationships. There is significant research about why customers make buying decisions. Bottom line: They choose a certain salesperson because theylike and trust him and his organization.
First impressions matter. There’s a saying among salespeople that customers buy with emotion and justify with fact. If our customers don’t like us or don’t feel comfortable with us, they won’t buy from us. You can wow your clients with technology know-how now and try to win them over later, once they find out you’re honest and reliable. But the reality is you need people to start liking you within the first few seconds of meeting. That’s really all you have to get off on the right foot. And fancy gizmos won’t make that happen. But a trusted referral and a personal connection will.
Relationships matter. Would you prefer to do business with someone you’ve met via a cold call or someone you’ve met through a friend or colleague with whom you have an established, respected relationship? It’s a no-brainer. Relationships, both personal and business, power all aspects of our lives.
Real-life results matter. The most energizing and exciting part of sales work is the relationships with our customers, the interaction. Salespeople like learning about a customer’s situation and matching their solutions to that person’s needs. In an era dominated by ever-expanding technology, the creative, strategic part of our business is back. Yes, it requires brainpower. But isn’t that what we love about what we do?
(Read Full article)
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February 14, 2012 Women’s 2.0 - Fifth Annual PITCH Conference & Competition ‘From Concept to Cash’: Really enjoyed some amazing presentations by amazing women especially Robin Chase of Zipcar; Katie Mitic of Facebook; Leah Busque of TaskRabbit; and Caterina Fake of Flickr & Hunch. Loved being surrounded by such hard-working, determined and revolutionary women!
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