The tech turn-off: ‘New Rude’ whitepaper reveals business faux pas

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Hatfield (PRWEB UK) 12 September 2013

International research carried out for the whitepaper explored which types of behavior are considered rude in today’s business world. It emerged that nearly half of those polled in the UK agree that checking emails (49%) or texts (45%) during a meeting or lunch is rude. The paper also revealed that 46 per cent of those in the UK believe that not making eye contact for a handshake is discourteous. These three faux pas were universally considered the rudest forms of behavior across the UK, US, France and Germany.

Not muting during conference calls (38%), sending LinkedIn invites to unknowns (24%), emailing somebody at the next desk (22%), using text speak in emails (18%) and using capitals in communications to make a point (18%) also registered high on the ill-mannered list.

Hina Sharma, Head of Brand for Europe at Pitney Bowes said “It may seem obvious, but manners matter, and business etiquette plays a subtle yet important role in building and developing relationships. How you present yourself will have lasting effects on potential clients; whether it be in person, over the phone, email or physical mail, it’s fundamental that SMEs step in to the client’s shoes, and ask themselves how they would like to be approached.

“While technology has undoubtedly revolutionised the business world, it’s important to use it appropriately and know when to switch it off. If you’re meeting with a prospective or a long-term client for example, your focus should be on them, not your phone.

“The New Rude whitepaper also showed that the same rules apply across the UK, US, France and Germany, so businesspeople must not fall in to the trap of believing that just because they’re doing business in other parts of the world, their manners can slip.”

The full findings of the research are available in Pitney Bowes’s whitepaper, ‘The New Rude’, available at http://pressroom.pitneybowes.co.uk/the-new-rude/ .

Survey methodology: 1,000 consumers polled in the UK, the US, France, Germany and India respectively.

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For more information, interviews or an image, please contact Jessica Hilton, James Harris or Gill Alexander at Lucre Public Relations on 0208 741 5900 or pitneybowes(at)lucre(dot)co.uk

About Pitney Bowes
Pitney Bowes provides technology solutions for small, mid-size and large firms that help them connect with customers to build loyalty and grow revenue. Many of the company’s solutions are delivered on open platforms to best organize, analyze and apply both public and proprietary data to two-way customer communications. Pitney Bowes includes direct mail, transactional mail and call center communications in its solution mix along with digital channel messaging for the Web, email and mobile applications. Pitney Bowes: Every connection is a new opportunity™. http://www.pb.com

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