10 commandments for gender-neutral etiquette

by Marjorie Brody   

1. Shake hands with everyone–men and women–the same way. The one-hand, straight-up-and-down handshake is the most effective and professional.
2. Women should always stand when introduced, as men do, in a one-on-one encounter or meeting environment.
3. Use your full name when introducing yourself. Full names give you more credibility and identity as a professional.
4. It is proper and legal to address women as Ms. in a spoken or written communication. The woman may then advise you to say Mrs. or Miss if she prefers it.
5. Introduce people in business based on rank, not gender.
6. Avoid touching people beyond the one-hand professional handshake.
7. Avoid showing too much skin in any business-related situation, whether it be dress-down day or the company cocktail party. Short shorts, sleeveless shirts, tank tops, sandal-like shoes or open backs are not appropriate for business-related environments.
8. People open doors for people, not necessarily men opening doors for women. If someone opens a door for you, you should not protest this act of politeness.
9. The host of a business lunch–the one who did the inviting–pays for lunch regardless of gender.
10. Avoid saying Hon, Dear, Son, Doll, Babe, and other terms of endearment to people in the work environment and over the telephone.

Marjorie Brody, MA, CSP, CMC, president of Brody Communications (BrodyCommunications.com), is an internationally recognized expert and motivational speaker on career enhancement and corporate etiquette. She has appeared on CNBC and Fox-TV and has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Fortune, and many others.

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