Professional Etiquette Quiz—Know Yourself

The following quiz will help you understand your own professional etiquette. Answer each
question thoughtfully, and then we will discuss the results. How can this knowledge help
you become a better communicator?

Take the following quiz to see how many times you may have displayed less-than-
professional etiquette in the workplace [or the classroom). Place a check beside each
violation that applies to you.

6 1. Came to work late and/or was unprepared to do your job.

2 2. Failed to greet coworkers or supervisors when you arrived at work.

3 3. Made the following statement or one like it:" I missed work on Friday, did we do
anything important while I was gone?"

2 4. Asked your manager: "If I miss my shift to go to a Bronco game will I get written up?"

_25.Forgot to turn off your cell phone or switch it to vibrate mode when you arrived at
work. (And you have one of those annoying cell phone ringtones.)

3
_ 6. Left your duties to answer your cell phone or send a personal text.

_17. Failed to say "please" and "thank you" when you wanted something or when someone
did something nice for you.

5 8. Surfed the Internet or visited websites that were not work-related.

_29. Sent an e-mail with punctuation and/or spelling errors to a supplier, client, donor,
employees, etc.

0
10. Applied for another job or requested a letter of recommendation for another job
while on company time.

0
_ 11. Gossiped about another coworker or supervisor.

0
_ 12. Reprimanded a coworker or employee in front of other employees or clients.

0
_ 13. Were noticeably disengaged during a staffer other work meeting rather than
showing support and participating in the discussion.
0
_ 14. Purposely failing to follow an instruction from a supervisor or coworker because
you disagreed with their request.

How did you do? For true professional excellence, you should not have a single check. Take
some time to think why the examples above would be poor professional etiquette. If you did
earn some checks, what can you do to eliminate those behaviors in the future? Are there
other unprofessional or poor etiquette behaviors not mentioned above?

Prepared by DMB Consulting 2015