Communicating effectively in the business world is a way to develop full work potential and achieve quick career advancement. Today’s business is all about communication and business relationships that can be maintained and advanced following proper business etiquette.

Proper business etiquette is a must at corporate events. However, hardly any people are really trained in the art of good business manners and even fewer are ready to overcome the fear of uncertainty that comes with meeting new people. In most of the cases, business etiquette is learned “on the job”.

There is a really fine line between expected business etiquette and improper behavior at business events. Therefore, if you want to avoid being gossiped on at the next corporate event, here are some simple guidelines of what you should not do at a business event:

> Follow the dress code

Read carefully the invitation and see what it says about the dress code. Usually, the dress code at business events is formal, regardless if the event is a breakfast product launch at a local lodge or a dinner party at a five-star hotel downtown. You don’t want to see yourself being greeted at the registration table wearing casual clothes, while all colleagues and supervisors are dressed in business attire.

> Extend a firm handshake

In the business world, a handshake goes beyond words, but it’s always the first impression another person gets of you. Every time you shake hands in a business environment is, in effect, a small introduction of yourself and your character. A firm handshake shows that you are a firm businessperson and that you know what you look for. Also, it is appropriate to look the other person straight in the eyes when you shake hands, while repeating his or her name, loudly, with the right pronunciation. This will enable you to remember the name later on during the event.

> Put a limit to drinking

Usually, companies pay for open bars at business events so that people can have a drink and socialize. Keep that in mind: business events are for networking, not for exposing your extreme abilities in drinking. By getting drunk at a business event all you accomplish is to come off as totally unprofessional as well as indifferent to your company. Also, you will most likely say more than you should say about company secrets and plans or it can even be dangerous when you get your car to drive back home. Therefore, for all these reasons, do not have more than one or two drinks and keep yourself within limits.

> Put a limit to talking

When attending a business event it is impolite to overwhelm other people by talking unstoppably. Do not monopolize other people’s time. Instead, be a good listener without interrupting and contribute to the conversation by adding value, talking about a variety of topics that are of mutual interest. Avoid talking about yourself, your personal finances, health issues, gossiping and do not use slang language. All these do not interest anyone.

> Remember that superiors are superiors

Getting too friendly with your superiors is a no-no situation. Remember that the event you are attending is a business event and your relationship with your superiors is a business relationship. The next morning or within the next hours you will see these people in the office and you would have to great them formally and be professional. Therefore, it is totally unprofessional to call them by their first name at the event or take any kind of liberty without being prompted to do so. Be professional.

In general, keeping a professional profile without being too extravagant in your looks and behaviour allows you to get the most out of a business event. Following the formal courtesies of business events is a valuable tool of career advancement. Just make sure you arrive on time at the event. Arriving late is a terrible business etiquette mistake.