Etiquette Quiz #4 Answers
1. When you answer someone else’s phone, it is ok to say, “Who’s calling?”
b. No – “Who’s calling?” is a demand. Proper etiquette requires requests, not demands. You would be better to ask, “May I take a message?”.
2. When asking a guest to lunch, is it all right to ask where they would like to eat?
b. No – if you put your guest on the spot with this question, you are asking them to decide how formal you intend lunch to be and how much money you will spend on them. You are the host – it is up to you to give options (two or three choices) but you control the event.
3. After you have received a business card from someone, is it ok to write notes on it while talking with the giver?
b. No – a business card is a gift – would you deface a gift in front of the giver? Of course not. Save your note taking for after they leave your presence. If they don’t see you do it, they won’t know.
4. You have just spilled wine on another guest at the cocktail party you are attending. You would ..
a. Offer to pay for the dry cleaning (and apologize). Never touch someone – they may not appreciate it and you will surely make things worse.
Answer number 3. I would have considered a business card a way of promoting business, not a gift. What if the giver is making a meeting or a diner arriangement with you? Wouldn’t it be ok to write time, date, place or even directions? If someone were to do this to my business card, I would not be offended, I would actually be pleased that the reciever is showing intrest and does not want to get the meeting, date, time, or place wrong.
The information that is on the business is the promotional aspect. The card itself is a gift because it is not necessary in order to promote one’s business – it is a “cheat sheet” of information. If you want to write on someone’s card while they are standing near you, ask permission.
The best approach would be to have another place – a jotter card or notepad (spiral pads are kind of cheesy but they work in a pinch too) to write notes about the person and what follow up may be necessary. Also ask permission to write while they are talking.