General Rules of Behavior

Meeting and greeting clients

A day in the life of every businessperson is made up of a series of meetings and greetings. Whether you are making the initial contact with a client or a colleague, you want to get off on the right foot. Doings so will make the first encounter and subsequent ones go smoothly and easily. Getting off on the wrong foot can make for a difficult recovery. Save your energy for later and use these simple strategies for a successful start.

1. Stand up when you meet someone. This allows you to engage the person on an equal eye-to-eye. By remaining seating, you send a message that you don’t think the other person is important enough to warrant the effort it takes to stand. If you find yourself in a position where you can’t stand up offer an apology and an explanation.

2. Smile. Your facial expression says more than your words. Look as if you are pleased to meet the other person of what is in your mind. Put a smile on your face for the person standing before you.

3. Make eye contact. Looking at the people you meet says that you are focused and interested in them. If you are staring off somewhere else, you may appear to be looking for someone more to your liking to come along.

4. Introduce yourself immediately. As soon as you approach people you don’t know or are approached by them, say who are you. Don’t stand around as if someone else is in charge of introductions.

5. Include a statement about who you are when necessary. It is not always enough to say, “Hello, I’m Mary Jones”. Give more information. “Hell, I’m Mary Jones. I work for XYZ Corporation”.

6. Offer a firm handshake. Expend your hand as you greeting. The person who puts the hand first comes across as confident and at ease. Make sure that this physical part of your greeting is professional. Don’t offer bone-crashing grips or limp-wristed shakes. If you are confused about men and women shaking hands, don’t be. There once was a time when women didn’t shake hands with men. They have passed. Everyone in business shakes hands with everyone else.

7. Learn how to make smooth introduction. In business you often introduce less important people to more important ones. The way to do this is to say the name of the more important person first, followed by the words “I’d like to introduce…” and then give the other person’s name. Be sure to add something else about each person. So they will know why they are being introduced and will have some information which to start a conversation with.

8. Pay attention to names when you meet people. It is too common to be thinking about what you are going to say next and not focus on the other person. If you concentrate and repeat the name as soon as you’ve heard it, you’ll have a better chance of remembering it later.

9. Use first names of people whom you have just met only after they give you permission. Not everyone wants to be addressed informally on the initial encounter. Your goal within the first few minutes of meeting other people is to make them feel comfortable so that they will want to do business with you.