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 | >> work at home? share a laugh...and a helping hand |
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This article may only be reproduced in its
entirety, including the resource box and subscription information
electronically or in print. A courtesy copy of your publication would
be nice, too!
The Finer Points of WAH Etiquette
Business etiquette is vitally important in the corporate world...and
more so when you w0rk at h0me. We here at WAHumor present a
basic primer on the finer points of WAH etiquette.
When answering a WAH business phone, you
first and foremost must answer it yourself. The most pleasing and
eloquent message on your machine proves useless when your
three-year-old proudly announces
to your befuddled caller, "I MADE
POTTY TOOOOODAYYYY!!!"
An easily recognized signal to quiet any
outstanding clamor is most essential. A snap of the fingers, a ring of
a bell or the sharp report of an airhorn may prove adequate. If not,
consult your local Army/Navy surplus supplier for...ummm...unadvertised
specials.
It is also imperative that you answer in
the correct manner - it's not
so much what you say as how you say it.
Although you may have had a mad scrabble with several youngsters
experiencing Double Stuf Oreo-induced psychosis, upon answering your
voice must be perfectly calm and your breathing even. Asthma attacks
are very poorly received and could cost business. In the event of severe noise, a tranquilizer dart gun is not thought unseemly.
Entertaining Clients:
Unexpected Guests:
For the purpose of entertaining clients,
always
use a small secluded room away, and well insulated from, sounds
emanating from the main living area. Should such a room be
unavailable,
build a shed.
Clearly mark the pathway to your chosen
meeting place. Be sure to provide the quickest possible access to
respect your client's time and avoid children. Consider installation of
an extra large vacuum chute of the kind once used to transport mail in
office buildings.
Have suitable refreshments on hand to be
certain that you will not leave the room, thereby leaving said client
alone and unprotected.
If something should spill during the meeting,
clean it up promptly and discard it in a large waste basket under your
desk. If your client requests something that is not on hand, politely
affirm that you have none - even water.
Unexpected Guests:
Use an intercom to ascertain the identity
of the visitor, By this method, you may avoid opening the door and the
risk of inadvertently inviting them inside. It is crucial that you use
this approach at all times - even when the front door is open and the
visitor is plainly visible behind the screen door. Feign blindness.
Provide an unwelcoming atmosphere at the
entrance - no coat racks, tables, chairs or ironing boards that could
hold coats. Should the
visitor enter, assume the military "at ease"
stance with your hands clasped behind your back. Maintain this position
so that the visitor cannot hand their coat to you.
If your guest still enters and wants to
sit, it is essential that you
have prepared the furniture by placing
large, angular rocks under the cushions. Hide old rotten half-eaten
bananas and unfinished yogurt cups (with children, there is always a
constant and abundant supply
on hand) in strategically chosen areas of
the furniture to soil your visitor's clothing so that you may hurry
them off to the dry cleaner
and resume work.
We at WAHumor hope that you will find this
basic primer to be of
some use and always be mindful of the importance
of proper etiquette for the w0rk at h0me lifestyle. WAHumorWayBook2@aweber.com Dan Reinhold is the proud author of "The WAHumor Way: Reality Check, Please!", the essential primer for everyone starting a home business or even thinking about it. With two boys, a dog, a cat, a rat, a wife and a household to keep together to boot, Dan's also the editor of WAHumor to hang on to his sanity by showing how insane the work-at-home community can be! Subscribe quickly at WAHumor@aweber.com You could Win Big!! "The WAHumor Way: Reality Check, Please!"is now available at www.WAHumorWay.com WAHumor donates 10% of gross profits each month to
Contact us at:
WAHumor
Depot Plaza, #1565
Duxbury, MA 02331
(781) 585-7174
Copyright © 2004 - 2006 Dan Reinhold of WAHumor.
All Rights
Reserved
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