Several articles concerning different types of etiquette have appeared in this newsletter. I thought I'd follow up with one dealing with intra-company etiquette or good manners. Since I worked in the business world for several years, as well as a teacher in one of the largest companies in the world -- the school system, I learned many things about what helps make life less stressful for employee and employer.
No, I don't have all the answers, but I do have a few tips that could make a difference. I hope the following article helps make your company relationships work better.
Intra-company
Etiquette I
In
any business or company, a protocol exists to address concerns, problems, or
day-to-day occurrences or business. Those “rules” make the business run
smoother and helps to avoid problems, or avoids aggravating existing problems. Businesses,
including 4RV, have protocols in place for those reasons, and when anyone
avoids, circumvents, or bends protocol, problems arise.
One
example, 4RV has the request (actually requirement) that authors and
illustrators avoid direct contact with each other unless the president or vice-president
gives limited permission. One author insisted that the two be able to contact
each other and that the author “guide” the illustrator. The result, part way
through the book, the illustrator quit. If a person doesn’t understand the need
for a “rule” or requirement, ask and then respect that the “powers that be”
know what they/he/she is doing, even if the answer is that is the way the
company wants something done.
Therefore,
what does intra-company etiquette mean? Such etiquette addresses the
relationships, the procedure, the way things occur between members, employees,
employers, staff, etc. in a company; most such protocol or behavior means using
good manners and being respectful of others. Below are a few “rules” that apply
anywhere, for any type business:
1. Follow communication protocol. If your
superior is to be included in the loop, don’t leave him out for any reason.
Doing so undermines his position and creates hurt feelings and a lack of
respect for the person not following protocol and for the superior.
2. Don’t
gossip and discuss company business unknown by a superior who needs to be
included, or with people who have no need to be included. For example, an
illustrator directly contacts an author and discusses material without
including the art director, or a staff member contacts another staff member
without including their superior because the first is not happy with the
supervisor. In both examples, someone is
showing great disrespect for a superior and for the other person placed in an
awkward and compromising position.
Example: At 4RV, everyone is to Cc
certain people in emails. Yes, at times we forget to “reply all,” but leaving a
required Cc off an email causes problems and often undermines the position of
the person deliberately “forgotten.” Such action also shows a lack of respect.
3. Sharing
business information with someone else in the business who doesn’t need to know
undermines coherency in a company. Unless it’s “George’s” right to know what “Bob’s”
salary is, “Craig” is breaking protocol to share the information.
4. Complaining
about what happens in the company doesn’t help, in fact hinders a solution to
an actual problem. Anyone who has a problem should go to his/her supervisor.
Only if no solution is found, should he go elsewhere to find help — and then to
someone further up the line, not to others who cannot help.
5. Do
not undermine a superior by telling another person in the company that the
superior wants something done a certain way but that way is not what others in
the same business do, insinuating the “boss” is wrong. If a superior,
especially the “boss,” wants something done a certain way, it is not the right
of a person who may disagree to undermine the superior’s position. Such action
is rude and disrespectful.
6. Management should respect those under themselves in the hierarchy of a company, too. Nothing about an individual should be discussed with anyone who doesn't need to know the information. Respect should be shown and exercised no matter how "important" anyone is within the company.
Just a few suggestions for making
relationships smoother in a company. I know others exist, but these five are a
start. Later I’ll address etiquette between a company and its clients.
4RV Website
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