One morning, I was out with some friend getting breakfast. Honestly, I was not eating because I was praying and fasting at the time. I find it helpful to focus when I do that. On this instance, we had quite and eclectic group having breakfast together. An older gentleman (an employee of mine) and I ate with a younger couple whom worked for another company that was mentor of mine own company. We discussed business and business practices as they ate. I was more in learning mode than anything. I just listened to what they had to say as I focused on what I hoped and prayed to accomplish. We extended each other the professional business courtesy to learn from one another’s mistakes. We discussed everything from TV to politics but this was a business focused breakfast.
As the motley crew ate, we notice and older distinguished gentlemen came over. He greeted us all with a friendly “Hello”. He sat in a booth right behind us. He was very neatly dressed and proudly wore a luxury car hat. He never took off the hat and ate alone in his booth. He seemed pretty content with himself and the world. We continued on with or conversation. We discussed on company business practices and failures and we determined to learn from their errors.
As time progressed, man finished his meal and went to pay. The line to pay was right by our booth. The beautiful young woman in our group spoke to the man and offered him a card saying “Merry Christmas.
He shook his head and said “No, No, No” fast.
I found it quite odd. I just kept focused on the conversation we were having. The older gentlemen in our group sheepishly spoke to the man and mentioned that he was from out of town and looking to meet people in business. Basically, the gentlemen with us came out with a level of common decency and honesty. The distinguished man engaged the conversation briefly. He then proceeds to give back the card and say to the young woman “I will not need your services.”
“Wow, that is a first” I thought to myself. It seemed kind of insulting to say the least. I can’t say that I’ve ever seen someone give back a card. I’ve seen people toss it. I’ve seen women basically ignore a guy when he gives her a business card. However to just give back a professional looking business card, it just seemed rude to me. Common business etiquette would at least dictate that you keep the card. I would have kept the card if just to look it over later and perhaps make a follow-up thanks for the card e-mail. If you do not value the person at all you can still keep the card out of common business courtesy. To give back a card was so uncommon to me that I started to think of what it said about some people in business. I considered five ways common business etiquette can benefit you in the long run:
5) Treat everyone’s business card with importance:
You never know when you will or have run into the next Donald Trump. Honestly until most people get famous they are just a burgeoning entrepreneur. Some are just new to business or the business world and trying to make it. When you do mean a new person that gives you a card, consider that they are the next great thing. Who knows perhaps in time their business with blossom and you will need there services.
You also never know whom they might know. One stock broker I know that constantly focused on growing his business gave me a key good reason to practice common business etiquette. He met a person that looked like the didn’t have a lot of money. The fact is that this person didn’t have a ton of money. They gave him there card and said “Keep in touch”. He did keep in touch. He gave them the same courtesy he did with million dollar customers. In this case, the customer resulted in an account that invested about 25 dollars a month with him in a mutual fund. A few months past, the client had a friend that came into a small fortune. The friend asked the client if they knew anyone that they trust whom could give them good advice for investing about 5 million dollars. They referred their stock broker. Common business etiquette and good customer gave him this new account.
4) Give people the benefit of the doubt in meeting them:
In my area, many people do not trust others. Everyone feels like others are coming with and angle. The average customer looks to see how they can get a reliable referral from others. Most people do come with an angle of some sort. However, professional business etiquette would dictate that you at least indulge new business owners. You treat them with a level of respect when respect is given.
The new business might not be trying to sell you on anything. They could just want to have their name out there so that others might know they exist. Also some business owners look to get a mentor in business. Sometimes people do not know exactly how to ask for a mentor though that is what they seek. The mentor and the apprentice both can gain from this symbiotic relationship. A new Real Estate agent especially sends out tons of cards just to get the positive publicity on the street. You never know when someone is in the market to buy or sell a house. It is quite courteous to consider them as a reputable business professional. At the very least you could consider them a new potential business contact.
3) Give a firm handshake and smile:
Most people respect a firm handshake and a smile. It goes a long way to say that I’m serious about whatever it is we have discussed. It brings a level of business professionalism that most people look for when first meeting a new business contact. I’ve personally met people that didn’t give a firm handshake and diverted their eyes. I certainly didn’t thing to highly of them. Looking someone square in the eyes as you give them a firm handshake is proper professional business etiquette.
2) Know your 30 second commercial cold:
I’ve heard many people that could not really explain what they do in business; partly because they don’t know themselves. Most business is not rocket science. And even rocket scientist can boil their business simply down to “I’m a rocket scientist”. A business seminar for entrepreneurs gave me a key goal for new business. The key goal was to have a 30 second commercial. The 30 second commercial should be interesting an entertaining enough to make someone want to know more. In the big picture, you should be able to recite your business concept or idea to someone as if you were giving them a 30 second commercial.
In doing the program we noticed that most people were done within 20 seconds. When giving someone a business card, you have roughly an 8 second window to give them the gist of what you do. While they receive your business card most people glance at it informally and then look to hear a little bit from you on what exactly you do for business. This window usually leads to more questions and interest by them or simply a head nod and thanks. In the young girl’s case that I mentioned before, the card exchange with a “Merry Christmas.” The result from the distinguished gentlemen was a “No, no, no.” I still hold the man to be less professional and certainly not courteous. However the young woman too was at fault. With a 30 second commercial he would have a reason to keep the card. The professional business Etiquette you practice in giving a card is a key factor in growing your business.
1) Keep the cards:
In the situation previously mention; the most courteous simple thing to do is nod and accept the card. You really never know when the card you tossed is the one card you will need. Someone else might need the service. I’ve often heard about something or someone and thought “Wow, serendipity gave me a contact for that just recently.” My goal in life is to stay in God’s Grace and strive to be a blessing to others whenever possible. Just keeping the business cards puts me in a position to be a blessing to someone in need. It also helps me to potentially aid someone focused on growing a small business. If someone took the time and effort to offer me the card, the least I can do is engage them and keep it. Personally, I don’t typically have business cards. Usually if you meet me, I will great you with my brochure and 30 second commercial. I have yet to have someone turn down the brochure.
