Here are some useful etiquette tips on crafting e-mails

and mingling with co-workers.

The benefits of having positive working relationships with one's colleagues are innumerable.
Especially in an era when Americans work, on average, 1,778 hours annually according to
OECD, fostering these ties can lead to more productivity and happiness in the workplace.
When done right, powerful relationships yield huge dividendsmajor business deals, and
office synergy that earns your company a reputation as a great place to work. But navigating
this territory is notoriously difficult. Various work scenarios call for different protocols, and many
times employees are unable to traverse from a networking industry event to happy hour while
maintaining decorum.
Below, we have compiled several tips to help you cruise through crafting your next e-mail or
attending your next company function.
Mingling at an industry networking event. Industry networking events are prime
opportunities to meet clients or representatives that can boost your business. However, often
managers muddle the small talk that fuels these gatherings, and jeopardize their prospects for
partnerships.
When chatting with potential clients, it is best to steer clear of taking on topics that make
people uncomfortable, including politics and religion. One should also avoid imparting too
much personal information; it is unwise to discuss your health, salary, finances or relationship
problems when scrambling for things to say. You can always fall back on asking about plans for
the weekend or the upcoming holiday or talk about hobbies, sports, movies and children.
Avoid gossiping about co-workers at all costs. As one British publication aptly
observed, "You never know who's standing behind you, or is having a secret affair with the
person you're talking about."
If you find yourself locked into a dead-end conversation at an office holiday party, you can
always excuse yourself to get a drink. You could also say, "I won't hold you up any longer," and
graciously extricate yourself, leaving him or her to mingle with other coworkers.

Toasting with colleagues at happy hour. Gatherings outside of the workplace are designed
to foster loyalty and give colleagues an opportunity to get to know one another. Going to these
events are important, as it shows your co-workers that you are invested in them and care to
socialize with them. These gatherings also offer a great opportunity to get face time with senior
level executives.
And as Debra Yergen, author of Creating Job Security Resource Guide, said in an interview,
boundaries are key. "You want to have a warm working relationship, but you don't want to put
either party in a position of feeling embarrassed Monday morning for what happened Friday
night," Yergen says. "It helps everyone maintain a higher level of professionalism in the office
when no one has done or said something they regret outside of the office."
Also be wise about what you say to your employees. Having an inappropriate conversation with
someone beneath you in the company hierarchy reflects poorly on both of you. With this in
mind, it is probably best to "keep a degree of professional detachment between yourself and
those you manage," says Yergen.
Partnering with clients abroad. When working with clients or colleagues living in another part
of the world, one should always consider the cultural differences that may affect business
proceedings. Being cognizant of these subtle differences could make or break your attempt to
foster relationships overseas.
Remember that a little cultural understanding and research before an overseas trip, goes a
long way. The pace may be faster or slower than what one is accustomed to in the States. In
India, having a strong handshake is not a cultural norm, making a weak handshake less
significant. In China, the virtue of mianzi, or saving face, is paramount. This means that publicly
embarrassing a Chinese employee could have disastrous consequences.
Sending e-mails or posting status updates. In today's society, e-mail and social media play
a prominent role in business communication. What one posts on Twitter or sends in a message
to colleagues is as important as any face-to-face interaction.
Perhaps the foundation of "netiquette" is understanding that no interaction over the Web is
private. As Sally Hambridge of Intel wrote on the topic, "never put in a mail message anything
you wouldn't put on a postcard." The same rule applies for posting on Twitter or Facebook,
even if one has maximized his or her privacy settings.
Other ground rules include using spell check, not using all capital letters and considering which
colleagues to include when hitting "reply all."

Recognizing generational differences. In the workplace, one is likely to work alongside a

colleague whose generation views office matters in fundamentally distinct ways from his or her
own. While millennials, facilitated by technology, may be accustomed to conducting business at
any place or at any time, their baby boomer co-workers may feel differently. Communication
styles may also clash.
While generational diversity is not new, with the technological gap perhaps larger than ever, it is
imperative to acknowledge and work around these stylistic differences. More than anything
else, one should foster an environment where the dialogue is productive and everyone is
welcome and valued.
Celebrating your assets. In one Washington Post article, Lily Garcia advises that in any
working relationship, authenticity is key. If by nature you are more introverted, don't be afraid to
show up to a lunch or happy hour and just listen, because "your co-workers will just be happy
that you showed up to the party."