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Business Etiquette Training (1 day)
Delegates represent your organisation with confidence in every introduction, meeting, meal, call and email.
Clients and partners form opinions quickly – from a handshake, an email, a phone greeting or how someone behaves at a business lunch. Small lapses cost trust, and in a country with as many cultures as South Africa it is easy to get forms of address, greetings or gifts wrong. This business etiquette training gives staff clear, practical guidelines for the moments when first impressions count.
The day covers the full range: making introductions and remembering names, the meet-and-greet and moving a conversation from small talk to business, dining and restaurant etiquette, email, telephone and cell phone conduct, thank-you notes and formal letters, and dressing for different dress codes. It closes with cultural and international etiquette – titles and seniority, direct and indirect communication styles, giving and accepting gifts within your gift policy, and topics best avoided.
Delegates practise introductions, conversation openers and a place-setting walkthrough, and leave with a quick-reference guide for the situations they meet most often.
Why this course
For your organisation
- Staff who represent your brand professionally with clients and partners
- Fewer awkward moments at meetings, functions and client meals
- Consistent standards for email and telephone contact
- Respectful conduct across cultures, inside and outside the business
For your delegates
- Confidence when meeting senior people and new clients
- Clear guidelines for business meals, calls and email
- Guidance on dress codes and professional image
- Practical tips for working across cultures
What delegates will be able to do
- Explain why etiquette matters in business and what it covers
- Introduce yourself and others correctly, including titles and seniority
- Make a strong first impression and hold a business conversation
- Conduct yourself confidently at business meals and functions
- Write professional emails, letters and thank-you notes
- Handle telephone calls, voicemail and cell phones courteously
- Interpret common dress codes and choose appropriate clothing
- Adapt greetings, gifts and conversation to different cultures
Who should attend
Employees and managers who meet clients, visitors or partners – sales and account managers, executive and personal assistants, receptionists, consultants, graduates entering corporate roles, and anyone who represents the organisation at meetings, events or business meals.
Course outline
Day 1 – Etiquette for business
Etiquette and first impressions
- What business etiquette and protocol are
- Why etiquette affects trust and business results
- Introducing yourself and others: titles and seniority
- Business cards, name tags and remembering names
- Managing nerves when meeting new people
Meeting, greeting and conversation
- A simple three-step meet-and-greet
- Four levels of conversation, from small talk to business
- Safe topics and sensitive ones
- Meeting protocol: punctuality, phones and participation
Dining and entertaining
- Reading the place setting and using your napkin
- Ordering, and alcohol at business functions
- Paying the bill and tipping
- Handling awkward moments at the table
Email, telephone and written etiquette
- Addressing and structuring a business email
- Tone, grammar and acronyms
- Telephone greetings and voicemail
- Cell phones in meetings and at events
- Thank-you notes, formal and informal letters
Dress and professional image
- Interpreting dress codes from formal to smart casual
- Choosing what to wear for the occasion
- Grooming and accessories
- Punctuality, attitude and respect as part of your image
Etiquette across cultures
- Cultural diversity in the South African workplace
- Direct and indirect communication styles
- Gifts: giving, accepting and your organisation's gift policy
- Preparing for international visitors and business travel
- Quick-reference guide, evaluation and close
How it is delivered
One day, 08:30-16:00. In person at your offices anywhere in South Africa, at a BOTI venue, or live online. One delegate or a group of up to 20; examples matched to your clients and sector on request. Workbook and a quick-reference etiquette guide included. We deliver it at your offices in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town and anywhere else in South Africa, at a BOTI venue in Johannesburg, or live online for teams in different places.
What our clients say
★★★★★ 4.8 on Google from 790+ reviews · word-for-word quotes from signed letters of reference, from clients on this and/or related BOTI courses
“The course was efficiently organized and aligned with our schedule. We were impressed by the quality of the training and the expertise of the facilitator.”
“They were very professional, and they never failed us at any point during the process. They have met our expectations with both trainings.”
“BOTi has consistently and expertly delivered quality training services in respect of our Soft Skills requirements. We feel confident in recommending BOTI as a training services provider par excellence.”
Frequently asked questions
Can you run this course at our offices?
Yes. Most groups are trained at the client's premises anywhere in South Africa; we can also host it at a BOTI venue or deliver it live online.
How many people can attend?
From one delegate to groups of about 20. The price per delegate drops as the group grows – see the price table, or ask us for a quote.
Is it accredited?
No. It is a non-accredited short course and delegates receive a BOTI certificate of attendance.
Can it be tailored for assistants or client-facing teams?
Yes. For executive assistants we can weight the day towards protocol, visitors and correspondence; for sales and account teams, towards client meetings, entertaining and cultural etiquette.
Do you cover email etiquette in detail?
Email is one part of this day. Teams that write a lot of client correspondence can add BOTI's one-day Email Etiquette Course.
Can you run this course in Johannesburg, Cape Town or Durban?
Yes. We train on site at your offices in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town and across South Africa, at a BOTI venue in Johannesburg, or live online so a team spread over several offices can attend together.
Related courses
Ask a consultant for a written quote
A BOTI consultant emails you a written quote, usually within 15 minutes (Mon–Fri, 08:00–17:00). After hours, we reply on the next working day. To speak to someone now, call 011 882 8853.
Your quote request is for: Business Etiquette Training (1 day)