Event Etiquette: 5 Mistakes to Avoid
Event Etiquette: 5 Mistakes to Avoid
An event can bring together family, friends, and business associates to celebrate something big or just have a good time. Whether it’s your wedding, the birth of your child, or the introduction of your new product, putting on an event is hard work. To keep the good times rolling, it’s important to avoid making some common etiquette mistakes that could distract from the celebration and upset other attendees. The following are five manners faux pas you don’t want to make at your next event
1) Dressing Inappropriately
Attending a formal event in jeans or sneakers will not make a good impression, so dress for success. The saying it’s not what you say but how you look is very true when it comes to events. Be on time : Arriving late is rude and makes others wonder if you are late for everything or that you have no respect for anyone else’s time. If there was some traffic, let people know it beforehand so they do not think you are late because of them.
2) Not greeting anyone at the event
Introduce yourself to people you don’t know. We often miss out on opportunities because we think, Hey, they probably know me by now. It’s true, they do know you—but only as a face in a crowd. They don’t know your name, where you work or even what your interests are. Try saying hello every time you see someone new; it will help put more faces and names together and build your network as well as theirs.
3) Talking during a speech
You’ve arrived at a speech, and right away you see a few of your peers chit-chatting away with each other. Unfortunately, when it’s time for you to listen, no one else does—because they haven’t stopped talking. If you want others to hear what someone has to say and respect that person, be sure not to talk during his or her speech.
4) Having poor social skills
It’s easy to understand why business professionals might underestimate their need for social skills. After all, they are coming from a professional background. However, social skills are just as important in a business setting as they are anywhere else. If you find that you have poor social skills or suffer from anxiety at events, consider attending a workshop on public speaking and event etiquette before hitting up your next professional event. Do not forget your name tag : The purpose of name tags is to make introductions easier.
5) Showing up late
Even if you’re not running late, it sends a bad message when you arrive 20 minutes after everyone else. Plus, arriving on time signals that you respect your host’s time and understand that they made an effort to make sure everything ran smoothly. If necessary, arrive early enough that you can have a few moments alone with your host before mingling with other guests.
Photo Credit: @kathkarno via Twenty20