Business Etiquette: Back to Basics

Being seasoned real estate agents, you know proper work etiquette and practice it daily. But wait - do you? When you’re young, straight out of college or fresh on the working scene, you put on your best suit and attitude to make a great professional impression on your colleagues and superiors. But as time goes by, things get more casual and you might lose your grasp on what’s appropriate and what’s not in the working world.  

With the growth of mobile and cyber communication, it seems like “professionalism” has toned down a notch. Instead of scheduling a meeting (whether it be with a client or coworker), you can discuss projects and plans of action via phone, email, text or social media. But if you take a step back to look at the big picture, those concrete concepts of business etiquette still exist. 

Don’t Judge: We learned this on day one of life. Don’t judge, and don’t criticize others. We all have our flaws, and there is always room for improvement. While we may not agree with the way a coworker or our boss handles a situation, the only person you are responsible for is yourself, and it’s not our job to form opinions about others based on what we think is right. If you approach everything and everyone with an open mind, there is less room for unnecessary turmoil. 

Say Thank You: When was the last time you wrote a “thank you” note? Now, I don’t mean a “thank you” text message or a “thank you” email – but an actual note on paper or a card. This is business etiquette at its simplest. After an interview or a visit with clients, take the time to write a note. It will make you stand out above the crowd and also increase the credibility of your entire company. I don’t know about you but I love getting things in the mail. It’s so personal, and really makes you feel appreciated. 

Remember Names: If you work in or manage a brokerage that has a lot of employees, it’s probably easy to lose track of who’s who. 

Example:
Salutation: Hey, Bill!
Response: Hey…you…

Sound familiar? Whether you’re the champ of remembering names or on the verge of forgetting who you share an office with, it’s extremely important to know your peers or employees. Make it a point to reach out to people in the office regardless of their title and become familiar with what they do. Every single person in the office works hard to make the business run smoothly, and should be acknowledged for such. Besides, it’s never bad idea to form a new relationship; you never know where it will take you. 

Eliminate Distractions: I mentioned right off the bat how much of an impact the social and mobile world has had on today’s work ethic – this remains especially true when it comes to meetings or presentations. How annoying is it when you’re in a meeting and you look over and see Joe Schmo smiling down at his phone? While you shake your head I’ll bet we’re all guilty of this - I know I am. While our mobile devices are convenient for us in many ways, including work-related, it’s so easy for them to become distractions during an important meeting or presentation. Try turning off your devices before going into a meeting – any text message, voicemail or email can wait. Whether it’s during a conversation, meeting, seminar, or whatever it may be, make yourself fully present. You will thank yourself afterwards. 

All in all – sometimes the basic fundamentals (pre Blackberry and iPhone) are just what we need to get us through the day. On that note, your real estate virtual assistant can also help you make it through the day by lending a hand with almost anything. From social media, blogging, listing marketing, copywriting and more, we’re here whenever you need us. 

Have an awesome day! 

Lauren Wille
Marketing Coordinator