Office Etiquette 
Do You Know the Basics? 
Society of Women Engineers Conference 2014 
October 25, 2014 
1:30 P.M.-2:30 P.M.
Speakers 
 Ms. Brandie Jackson 
 Systems Engineer for Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren 
 US Navy 
 Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering 
from Mississippi State University 
 Master’s Degree in Engineering Management from Old 
Dominion University. 
 Ms. Chelsey Lever 
 Human Systems Engineer at the Naval Surface Warfare Center 
Dahlgren Division 
 Bachelor’s Degree in Biomedical Engineering from Virginia 
Commonwealth University 
 Working on Master’s Degree in Engineering Management from Old 
Dominion University 
 Plays the Guitar
Objective 
You’ll know how to: 
 Describe Office Etiquette and its benefits 
 Practice cubicle and office etiquette 
 Develop positive co-worker relationships 
 Identify tactics to avoid rumors and 
gossips
Office Etiquette 
“Office etiquette is about conducting yourself 
respectfully and courteously in the workplace.” 
“Business etiquette is a code of behavior that 
makes business interactions predictable and 
professional. It combines common sense and 
consideration for others to establish a set of 
rules for professional behavior.” 
Logical Operations, Inc.
Office Etiquette: 
• Influences your ability to 
succeed in your career. 
• Affects your ability to 
work and communicate 
successfully with your 
co-workers. 
• Reflects positively or 
negatively on you and 
your organization.
Professional Appearance 
 Read your company’s 
dress code guidelines 
 Do not call too much 
attention to yourself 
 Dress appropriately 
for your business
Meeting and Greeting 
 First impressions are important! 
 Identify yourself 
 First and Last Name 
 Company and/or Position 
 The handshake 
 Try to remember names
Non-Verbal Communication 
To express confidence in yourself and to show 
ease with others, you can use these means of 
nonverbal communication: 
 Postures 
 Facial Expressions 
 Gestures 
 Eye Contact 
 Personal Grooming
Happy Endings 
Max: “I don’t know. I wasn’t paying 
attention. I was too busy making up a 
song in my head about why mac and 
cheese are best friends.”
Strategies and Tactics: 
Being Present in Meetings 
 Pay attention 
 Take notes 
 Avoid electronics 
 Ask questions 
 Remember: You’re not behind a two-way 
mirror
Cubicle and Office Etiquette
Office Arrangements 
 Maintain a positive attitude 
 Respect others’ space, privacy, and time 
 Avoid making excessive noise 
 Use another location for personal or 
confidential matters
Telephone 
 Be aware of your surroundings and how 
loudly your are speaking 
 Keep personal telephone calls brief and to a 
minimum 
 Ask permission before using a speaker phone 
 Even though they were loud avoid giving 
advise to people that were not talking to you
Strategies and Tactics: 
Office Interruptions 
 Set boundaries 
 Non verbal cues 
 Body position 
 Direction of gaze 
 Continue to work 
 Excuse yourself 
 Be honest and direct 
 Schedule a better time
Jill and Jack 
Jack: Hey, Jill. I got your email. What did 
you want to talk about? 
Jill: Actually, I wanted to ask you if you 
would mind not yelling over the cubicle wall 
when you have a question for me. I know 
it’s convenient, but sometimes I lose my 
train of thought. 
Jack: Well, all right. 
Jill: If you could send me an email when you 
have a question, it would really help me out 
a lot. I’ll be able to concentrate on my work 
better, and I’ll be able to answer your 
questions more thoroughly.
Office Relationships
• “I’d Rather Not Know” 
• Change the subject and make it 
obvious that you are changing the 
subject. 
• Excuse yourself from the situation 
• Don’t spread information that you 
are told in confidence. 
• Do what you can to confront the 
rumor.
Positive Co-Worker Relationships 
 Demonstrate basic good manners. 
 Respect people’s personal space. 
 Show respect for rank. 
 Be helpful and willing to be helped. 
 Give and receive compliments graciously.
Summary 
Respect Yourself! 
Respect Others! 
“While the use of Good Manners will not 
compensate for technical knowledge, it can 
positively influence your ability to succeed.”
Questions?
Contact Information 
CHELSEY LEVER 
Chelsey.lever@gmail.com 
BRANDIE JACKSON 
Jackson.brandie@gmail.com

Office Etiquette: Do You Know The Basics?

  • 1.
    Office Etiquette DoYou Know the Basics? Society of Women Engineers Conference 2014 October 25, 2014 1:30 P.M.-2:30 P.M.
  • 2.
    Speakers  Ms.Brandie Jackson  Systems Engineer for Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren  US Navy  Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Mississippi State University  Master’s Degree in Engineering Management from Old Dominion University.  Ms. Chelsey Lever  Human Systems Engineer at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division  Bachelor’s Degree in Biomedical Engineering from Virginia Commonwealth University  Working on Master’s Degree in Engineering Management from Old Dominion University  Plays the Guitar
  • 3.
    Objective You’ll knowhow to:  Describe Office Etiquette and its benefits  Practice cubicle and office etiquette  Develop positive co-worker relationships  Identify tactics to avoid rumors and gossips
  • 4.
    Office Etiquette “Officeetiquette is about conducting yourself respectfully and courteously in the workplace.” “Business etiquette is a code of behavior that makes business interactions predictable and professional. It combines common sense and consideration for others to establish a set of rules for professional behavior.” Logical Operations, Inc.
  • 5.
    Office Etiquette: •Influences your ability to succeed in your career. • Affects your ability to work and communicate successfully with your co-workers. • Reflects positively or negatively on you and your organization.
  • 6.
    Professional Appearance Read your company’s dress code guidelines  Do not call too much attention to yourself  Dress appropriately for your business
  • 7.
    Meeting and Greeting  First impressions are important!  Identify yourself  First and Last Name  Company and/or Position  The handshake  Try to remember names
  • 8.
    Non-Verbal Communication Toexpress confidence in yourself and to show ease with others, you can use these means of nonverbal communication:  Postures  Facial Expressions  Gestures  Eye Contact  Personal Grooming
  • 9.
    Happy Endings Max:“I don’t know. I wasn’t paying attention. I was too busy making up a song in my head about why mac and cheese are best friends.”
  • 10.
    Strategies and Tactics: Being Present in Meetings  Pay attention  Take notes  Avoid electronics  Ask questions  Remember: You’re not behind a two-way mirror
  • 11.
  • 12.
    Office Arrangements Maintain a positive attitude  Respect others’ space, privacy, and time  Avoid making excessive noise  Use another location for personal or confidential matters
  • 13.
    Telephone  Beaware of your surroundings and how loudly your are speaking  Keep personal telephone calls brief and to a minimum  Ask permission before using a speaker phone  Even though they were loud avoid giving advise to people that were not talking to you
  • 14.
    Strategies and Tactics: Office Interruptions  Set boundaries  Non verbal cues  Body position  Direction of gaze  Continue to work  Excuse yourself  Be honest and direct  Schedule a better time
  • 15.
    Jill and Jack Jack: Hey, Jill. I got your email. What did you want to talk about? Jill: Actually, I wanted to ask you if you would mind not yelling over the cubicle wall when you have a question for me. I know it’s convenient, but sometimes I lose my train of thought. Jack: Well, all right. Jill: If you could send me an email when you have a question, it would really help me out a lot. I’ll be able to concentrate on my work better, and I’ll be able to answer your questions more thoroughly.
  • 16.
  • 17.
    • “I’d RatherNot Know” • Change the subject and make it obvious that you are changing the subject. • Excuse yourself from the situation • Don’t spread information that you are told in confidence. • Do what you can to confront the rumor.
  • 18.
    Positive Co-Worker Relationships  Demonstrate basic good manners.  Respect people’s personal space.  Show respect for rank.  Be helpful and willing to be helped.  Give and receive compliments graciously.
  • 19.
    Summary Respect Yourself! Respect Others! “While the use of Good Manners will not compensate for technical knowledge, it can positively influence your ability to succeed.”
  • 20.
  • 21.