Excerpted from the Executive Report: Business Etiquette - 95 Dos and Don'ts for Managers and Executives.
Everyone has at least one bad habit or tic - and they can be truly embarrassing. They can be tough to control because they're often unconscious and generally the outward signs of anxiety or nervousness.
The tic itself is an attempt at self-comfort. But they can be distracting and interruptive at best, offensive and offputting at worst.
So you need to find a way to control them. Often breathing exercises, where you concentrate on taking deep, abdominal breaths, holding and then releasing them can help curb involuntary gestures. You might try that if you do any of these:
- pick your nose, ears or any other body cavity
- twirl, twist, braid or fondle your hair
- scratch - anything
- clean your teeth (even with a toothpick) or nails
- "adjust" yourself
- interrupt others when they're talking
- crowd others (leave at least 18 inches of personal space between yourself and anyone to whom you may be speaking)
- snort, belch, fart or spit (if any of these things happen inadvertently, apologize profusely),
- point
- stare
- wiggle your leg incessantly
Also avoid:
- consuming smelly food or drink
- playing music (wear headphones if you must), or
- wearing excessive perfume or cologne.
DIGGING DEEPER
It takes more than business savvy to get ahead these days. Following the proper business etiquette will help you stand out - or at least not derail your career. For help, read the Executive Report: Business Etiquette - 95 Dos and Don'ts for Managers and Executives.
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