MODULE 3: UNIT 7

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN

BUSINESS ETIQUETTE &

BUSINESS ETHICS
INTRODUCTORY FOR THE TOPIC
The rules of both business ethics and business etiquette
are the foundations of strong, productive professional
relationships. You wouldn’t want to do business with
people who worked for an organization that had little
regard for either ethics or etiquette.

Business etiquette is important to commerce, but

business ethics is vastly more important
In most situations, the stakes are much higher in
business ethics than in business etiquette.
BUSINESS ETIQUETTE
Business etiquette comprises the rules that govern
polite interactions between two or more people.

BUSINESS ETHICS
usiness ethics comprises the rules that govern the
rights and responsibilities business people have with
respect to each other and the companies they work
for.
 SET OF RULES
Group A (etiquette) 1. Listen more than you speak.
If you violate any of the rules in
2. Don’t chew with your mouth open.
Group A, the worst that can 3. Avoid checking your phone while you’re interacting with
happen generally is that you’ll a colleague or client, unless it’s an emergency.
be considered rude, self-absorbed, 4. Have good personal hygiene.
or a slob. 5. Speak respectfully to everyone at your organization,
regardless of their position.

1. Do not reveal confidential information about your

GROUP B (ethics)
company or its clients. If you violate any of the rules in Group B,
2. Tell the truth. you may be fired, lose a business deal,
3. Keep the promises you make, and don’t make promises and/or spend a few years in prison.
you’re not prepared to honor.
4. Don’t sexually harass anyone.
5. Don’t offer or accept bribes.
 EXCEPTIONS AND NAUNCES
There are exceptions and nuances to the distinctions I’m
making between business ethics and business etiquette.
First, cultural
differences can
make violations of
business etiquette
a serious matter
The rules of both
business etiquette
and business ethics
exist on a continuum;
Those attributes of some offenses are
respect, and listening, more grave than
and patience, others. In some
ultimately consensus, cultures, speaking
are very important [in disrespectfully on a
this company]. If the single occasion is
person doesn't have such a serious
those attributes, or is violation of etiquette
maybe challenged [in that it can quash a job
one], it will cast a candidacy.
shadow on their
candidacy.
 Second, a
consistent
disregard of the
rules of business If you’re hired for a "Always look like
etiquette can have position in sales, for success! Always look
example, and you like money."
serious
routinely have bad -NBA luminary and
consequences, motivational speaker
breath, dirty
even if the Walter Bond
fingernails, and a
infraction itself slovenly appearance,
seems relatively you won’t be in sales
minor. for very long, because
you're the face of the
company, and you risk
losing business
opportunities for your
employer.
Finally, if you tend
to overpromise
and underdeliver,
which reveals a but you play a crucial
lack of concern role in your
about a basic rule company, a smart
of business company will be
ethics. willing to help you
become more
conscientious about
the rule of promise-
keeping.
 THE BOTTOM
LINE
The best employees, managers, and C- BUT IT DOESN’T MATTER HOW WELL-DRESSED YOU ARE, OR HOW SWEET
suite executives take the rules of both YOUR BREATH SMELLS, OR HOW CLEAN YOUR FINGERNAILS ARE IF YOU’RE
ALSO DISHONEST, RECKLESS, OR WILLING TO TAKE A BRIBE. NO COMPANY
business etiquette and business ethics IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WILL KEEP YOU AROUND FOR LONG—OR HIRE YOU
IN THE FIRST PLACE.
seriously. No one is perfect, but respect
is a crucial component of leadership at
every level of an organization. We show
respect for our direct reports, our
colleagues, our supervisors, our clients,
our company’s reputation, and ourselves
by being both polite and ethical.
THANK YOU
THANK YOU