3 key questions in business fashion, etiquette and courtesy at events - Handshakes, Business Cards, Mobiles

“A hat should be taken off when greeting a lady, and left off the rest of your life. Nothing looks more stupid than a hat.” PJ O’Rourke

Back in the day, salesmen ( it was a while ago) were advised 'to get ahead- wear a hat'. Fashions change and with them codes of behaviour. 

The summer hails the corporate hospitality and events season, where networking is undertaken away from conference halls, exhibition centres to al fresco  sporting fixtures and cultural festivals of one sort or another.

 These events raise the questions

1. What is appropriate dress?
2.  What are the behaviours expected in business circumstances?
3.  How should one address a client?

   We are no longer unsettled by professional cricketers wearing colourful pyjama  outfits in  the shorter versions of game, or surprised at coloured tennis gear worn at ATP tournaments like Queen’s Club AEGON Championships .

Formal corporate attire for spectators  has been relaxed to such events bar wearing the obligatory lanyard. 

Yet there are still occasions...

Yet uniform dress code is expected at premier sporting events in UK. The players still wear  whites at the test match at Lords, whites are worn at Wimbledon and even some spectators are expected to adhere to a strict dress code.

 Royal Ascot begins on Tuesday. The Royal enclosure expects certain ‘standards’.

Royal Ascot Dress Code and Business Dress

For those in the public eye , 'a faux part' could be most damaging to their image even their career. They might well feel the need to seek advice from a source such as Debrett. http://www.debretts.com/home.aspx or even Wikipedia which explains how one should address a royal to millions who will probably never need to.

( Interestingly Debrett's declare they are the modern authority on all matters of etiquette, social occasions, people of distinction and fine style'. )

Similarly if Salespeople believe that "the customer is (their) King or Queen , Prince or Princess)" questions of behaviour or ‘what is the right way to…?’, are part of a salesperson’s everyday life.


What are correct ways to behave in such interactions ?

Business etiquette and netiquette have social conventions which have become increasingly important.

These rules are often echoed throughout the industry or economy.

The Debrett website has a section on mobile etiquette that maybe both sellers and buyers might find interesting!



The handshake is initiated when the two hands touch, immediately.

It is commonly done upon meeting, greeting, parting, offering congratulations, expressing gratitude, or completing an agreement.

In sporting contests or other competitive activities, a handshake is a sign of good sportsmanship. Its purpose is to convey trust, balance, and equality.

Unless health issues or local culture dictate otherwise a handshake should always be made using bare hands.

Shaking hands is considered the standard greeting in business situations.

It is considered to be in poor taste to show dominance with too strong a handshake; conversely, too weak a handshake (sometimes referred to as a "limp fish" or "dead fish" handshake) could also considered unseemly due to people perceiving it as a sign of weakness .


Business cards are cards bearing business information about a company or individual.

They are shared during formal introductions as a convenience and a memory aid.

A business card typically includes the giver's name, company affiliation (usually with a logo) and contact information such as street addresses, telephone number(s), fax number, e-mail addresses and website.

Traditionally many cards were simple black text on white stock; today a professional business card will sometimes include one or more aspects of striking visual design.


Related Links

Forbes Article 2014 May : Dining Etiquette: The Business Meal As A Test Of Character

Click for free summary of the TACK Buyers' Views of Salespeople Research .


Royal Ascot Dress Code and Business Dress