• 10 rules of online etiquette
• Rules of etiquette

The unwritten rules of professional etiquette

Psychologist and associate professor Ryan Sharma has been mentoring students through higher education for over 14 years, teaching classes in professionalism, consultation, and clinical supervision borgata gypsy bar. In his role as the director of clinical training at California Lutheran University, he helps students develop their professional identity so that they can be successful working alongside seasoned clinicians. When he is not teaching or treating anxiety in his private practice, he is either woodworking or spending time with his wife and three children.

Did you know that no one cares about your grades in graduate school because everyone gets As? Did you know that all students are doing extra activities to pad their CVs and resumes? Do you wonder how you are supposed to stand out among your peers and get access to special projects, training opportunities, or internship placements? Do you know the common faculty annoyances that may spoil your chances at these opportunities?

The purpose of this book is twofold. First, it provides you with situational awareness of how faculty members are most likely to judge professional etiquette. Second, it provides concrete, immediately applicable advice on appropriate professional responses to those situations you are likely to encounter. I am writing down many of the unwritten rules. I will also share with you why those rules exist so that you may have a successful graduate-level academic experience and future professional life.

10 rules of online etiquette

Online interactions can be a great leveller. Unless you share such personal information, attributes like your gender, weight, general appearance, name, religion and race will be unknown to those you interact with. You can take advantage of this anonymity.

Nothing is more irritating than trying to have a conversation with someone who is engrossed in their phone, tablet, or another electronic device. This is especially important if the other person is your date, partner, or child.

Instead of trying to overwhelm others with superior opinions, think of it as an exercise in mutual listening, where the desired result is that everybody learns more about the truth. Good online debate netiquette means “holding the spirit to seek for truth, even if the truth is very different from what I originally thought,” Zhu Scott says.

Just like it sounds, netiquette is etiquette on the net. Even though online platforms can seem like the Wild West at times, there’s no need to add to the chaos—the digital world still requires rules of conduct. We’ve asked two experts to give us their most important rules of the web.

Boberg S, Schatto-Eckrodt T, Frischlich L, Quandt T. The moral gatekeeper? Moderation and deletion of user-generated content in a leading news forum. Media Commun. 2018;6(4). doi:10.17645/mac.v6i4.1493

Rules of etiquette

Some companies boast that they are “one big family,” but while that’s a lovely sentiment, you should not treat management and co-workers like close friends, says Parker. This is especially true if you’re considering adding your boss on Facebook or other social media platforms. “Keep your personal life personal,” Parker says. If you have a public profile, you may want to consider making it private, depending on the field you work in, she adds. “There are too many examples of people working in teaching, nursing and government jobs getting fired for what they post on social media.”

Invite anyone who is going to be a part of the baby’s life to the shower, regardless of gender. More men are attending baby showers these days—and they should. The change is a sign that guys are taking a more active role in parenting their children than dads did in the past, Parker explains.

A good guest won’t get sloppy drunk at someone else’s party, and a good host won’t let their guests drive drunk. “You can arrange for them to stay at your home, for someone to pick them up, or call them a taxi or Uber,” says Sokolosky. (Note: Many ride-share services will not pick up people who are heavily inebriated or will charge extra for the ride.)

There’s a disturbing trend, largely fueled by people filming videos for YouTube or social media, called “main character syndrome.” This is when people turn an event or public place into their personal stage, often at the expense of others, says Parker. Guests announcing a pregnancy or getting engaged at someone else’s wedding is such a breach of wedding etiquette that it’s become meme-worthy. Be conscious of what and where you’re filming, and don’t use other people as props for pranks or viral moments.

Got a great group shot at dinner and want to share the fun? Wait. “Don’t post pictures of other people or their children, nor tag them, anywhere online without their permission,” says Grotts. What you think is fun, others may see as embarrassing, or perhaps they just prefer privacy, and respecting their feelings is the very definition of etiquette. The other cardinal rule of social media is to never say anything online that you wouldn’t say in person, she adds.

There are many different types of social situations, each with its own unique set of etiquette rules and social skills, like tipping etiquette, wedding etiquette, doctor’s office etiquette, spa etiquette, nail salon etiquette or just sending food back at a restaurant without being rude. Of course, you probably do the “right” things naturally a lot of the time, but there’s also a good chance you’re accidentally making some serious etiquette mistakes, too. In addition to Sokolosky, we spoke to two other top etiquette experts to get tips and advice on what you should be paying attention to—and what you can let slide—when it comes to modern manners.