Business meetings were face to face earlier since it was the only option to communicate ideas and have discussions with one another. Due to the highest emergence of technology, various communication channels are introduced. They pave the way to simple and easy communication.
In today’s business world, many business meetings and collaboration with the customers are conducted virtually. Virtual meetings rank the topmost communication channel preferred for business collaborations with customers. But at someplace, these virtual meetings makes it harder to truly focus and engage. The earlier preferred face to face business meetings has several benefits.
Advantages of Inperson Business meetings
- Helps in gaining complete attention
- Increases focus and engagement level on both sides
- Build effective relationship with trust
- Improved understanding between clients and organizations
As face to face meeting with clients is an important part of customer relationship development, the below certain etiquette rules must be followed to make sure that you deal with your customers in a professional and polite way.
Introduce yourself & greet everyone
Use your full name while introducing yourself. Including your last name while introducing yourself to others is especially important while you have a common first name like “John” or “David”. Make sure that you are polite while introducing. Though you know the people before or not, greet everyone equally. You can simply greet with a “Hello, Nice to meet you”. Always greet other persons with a smile. Also, greet with a professional and firm handshake.
Be professional and sound perfect
Make eye contact with your clients most of the time during the meeting. This helps you to project yourself as a confident person.
Body language is also important. Your sitting/standing postures must be professional. Do not cross and uncross your legs. Your body language must be professional and it must not affect the person on the other side.
Pay attention
When someone else is speaking to you, it is an etiquette to nod your head or smile. It indicates that you are listening to them with full attention. It also shows that you value their thoughts. You must be showing more interest in hearing from your clients than conveying your opinion or suggestion.
Balance between verbal and non-verbal communication
Give importance to both verbal and non-verbal communication. In the case of verbal communication, too much speaking will be considered as insensitive or nervous. And if you discuss only business and not about other general things, others might think that you are limited. Body language plays a major role as mentioned earlier. Non-verbal communication such as Eye contact, posture, and facial expressions must be taken care of when you indulged in a face to face meeting.
End meetings smoothly
Making your customers happy while leaving the meeting is also the same as the way you greet them while they arrive for the meeting. Thank them for attending the meeting with a smile. So that you can end your meeting smoothly.
Only a few of the In-person Etiquette rules are explained here. Many more etiquette rules are available. Following such business etiquette rules lead to the success of the respective company. The entire face to face meeting must be in such a way that everyone who attended the meeting must feel that they had a good time.