Brought to you by the Builder Relations Committee of the Sales and Marketing Council of the Northeast Florida Builders Association and Lennar
by Maxine McBride
Founder and President, Clockwork
Marketing Services
Proper Etiquette for Success
Q: What is the appropriate business attire for Realtors and Site Agents in Florida?
A: Realtors and Site Agents in Florida sell beautiful homes and professional attire completes the package. We live in the Sunshine State and summer has set in! Adjusting your wardrobe is a must to survive the heat, but it cannot be done at the expense of losing your professional appearance.
Some quick tips for maintaining a professional appearance.
• Make sure your closet holds a range of color choices and fabrics. Lighter shades of the color spectrum work best. Cotton and linen are very breathable.
• Ladies - remember these simple guidelines: do not wear anything too tight, too short or too sheer. When in doubt, throw it out. Or at least, don’t wear it to work.
• Men - while a full suit isn’t always necessary, an ironed dress shirt or golf shirt and slacks offers a professional look that will help you beat the heat.
• When you try clothes on in the store, make sure you do the following in the dressing room before you make the purchase: squat, sit, bend over and raise your arms above your head to assure you won’t be revealing an inappropriate amount of flesh.
• Think about the nature of your job and make sure the clothes fit the situation. Are you riding in a car with your clients? If so, wear clothing appropriate for getting in/out of a car gracefully. No tight skirts or low cut tops!
• Don’t underestimate the power of grooming! Get a fresh haircut and keep your eyebrows and nails groomed - especially women who enjoy donning open-toed shoes.
Q: What is the best attire for “after-hours” networking?
A: When it comes to after-hours networking events, it’s important to remember that you are working. Attire should be similar to, if not the same as, what you’d wear to the office. If you are going straight from work to a networking event and want to change up your look, put a colorful jacket over your blouse, a stand-out piece of jewelry or change your shoes to a different style. Men can put a blazer over a dress shirt for an evening look.
Q: Regarding “phone etiquette” when you are working with clients, is it rude to answer the phone?
A: This all comes down to one thing: the person you’re with always trumps the call coming in. Unless you are expecting an urgent call, you should not answer your phone (or respond to an email on your Blackberry/iPhone) when you’re with clients. It shows disrespect. Schedule time to check voicemail and return calls and/or emails throughout the day.
Q: Regarding “appropriate etiquette with responding on a Blackberry or i-Phone”, is it okay to use abbreviations?
A: Ah, the world of Blackberrys and iPhones has certainly changed our methods of communication! When sending a business email on your computer, Blackberry or iPhone, you need to remember that it is a business communication and should be treated as such. General abbreviations are okay (i.e. Mon. AM), but steer clear of “TTYL” (Talk to you later) or “u” (in place of “you”). If you don’t have the time to type the full words, wait until you do have the time and send a complete, thoughtful response.
Q: Can we work to pass legislation that makes a pedicure mandatory with open-toed shoes?
A: Wouldn’t that be great! While we can’t do that, we can all remember that the details truly do make a difference.