Etiquette & Accessibility In Your Business
co-authored by Erin Perkins and Michelle A. Whyte
In our quest to navigate business and social situations with grace, we often turn to etiquette as a solution. Etiquette helps us establish, nurture, and manage our relationships, fostering relatability, trust, and approachability. It guides us to lead with integrity, confidence, consistency, and authenticity.
However, as our technological capabilities have rapidly advanced, our understanding of etiquette, inclusion, and acceptance has not always kept pace. In today's evolving landscape, being a savvy CEO requires us to broaden our perspectives when it comes to the etiquette of inclusion. We need to be more mindful and intentional about our approach to accessibility.
Etiquette has long been recognized as a powerful relationship building tool. Practicing good etiquette enhances our professional reputation, gains trust, shows respect to others, and creates an environment of mutual understanding and cooperation. It allows us to communicate effectively, navigate diverse social situations, and project a positive image for our business brand and our brand reputations.
On the other hand, accessibility plays a crucial role in fostering inclusivity within our organizations and beyond. By prioritizing accessibility, we ensure that our workplaces, products, and services are usable and welcoming to all individuals, regardless of their abilities.
Accessibility allows us to tap into the talents and inspiration of an under-served community, as well as, expand our customer base while demonstrating a commitment to social responsibility and empathy.
To truly excel in this entrepreneurial space, we need to combine the principles of etiquette and accessibility.
By doing so, we create a holistic approach to inclusion that encompasses not only interpersonal interactions but also the physical and digital spaces we operate in.
By understanding and implementing etiquette and accessibility principles, you can develop an etiquette inclusion plan for your business, one that fosters an environment of respect, accessibility, and success.
Importance of Accessibility and Etiquette for Businesses
Accessibility in business and social situations refers to the practice of creating an environment that is welcoming and inclusive to all individuals, regardless of their abilities or background. This means removing physical and systemic barriers that may prevent individuals from fully participating in social and professional settings. Accessibility can take many different forms, including having wheelchair ramps, assistive technologies, and providing alternate formats for information such as braille or audio descriptions. In addition to physical accommodations, accessibility also involves creating a culture of respect and inclusivity by using inclusive language and making efforts to address and accommodate individual needs.
So how does one improve on accessibility in business?
Create an Etiquette Inclusion Plan for your business. Feel free to use these 5 guidelines to get you started.
Conduct an accessibility audit. Review your digital spaces, physical spaces, and communication materials for areas in which you need to grow, as well as, praising your progress for where you glow.
Engage with accessibility experts. These partnerships can provide valuable insights, resources, education and support in developing and implementing an accessibility plan.
Provide clear & accessible communication tools. Learn to use closed captioning, sign language interpretation, and audio descriptions. Offering accessible documents, including text-to-speech and Braille options.
Ensure that websites, mobile applications, and even social media platforms utilize accessibility features.
Evaluate & Improve. Review your plan regularly. Be sure to consult with an expert and stay abreast of trends and best practices.
Practice Makes Progress.
Remember, creating an etiquette accessibility plan requires willingness, ongoing intention and deliberate action to adapt your business practices to remain inclusive and accessible.
By prioritizing accessibility in your physical spaces, digital platforms, communication practices, and interactions, you create an environment that truly fosters stronger relationships, enhances customer satisfaction, and opens doors to a broader audience.
Embrace the opportunity to lead the way in creating an entrepreneurial culture that values etiquette and accessibility, and watch as it positively impacts your reputation, growth, and overall success.
About Michelle
Michelle Whyte (she/her)
Founder & CEO, www.michelleawhyte.com
Michelle A. Whyte here! I’m a military spouse, mom, & the Empress of Etiquette for entrepreneurs. Which is a really fancy way to say that I empower entrepreneurs to position themselves to generate more revenue for their business with an emphasis on positive reputation, relationship building and social skill development.
Why? Because now more than ever people want to do business with people who care about people—not just what they can do for them.
I’m using my 18 years of hospitality and event planning experience to empower you to develop unshakeable confidence in navigating the people parts of your business with ease, integrity and authenticity.
So when you are ready to uncover your unique strategy for creating a remarkable reputation, referrals, and raving business relationships, I want you to join me on my free- weekly email series where I drop knowledge on how to carry yourself, communicate, and connect without feeling fake or phony.
Join Etiquette For Entrepreneurs!
Introverts and Extroverts welcomed!
Want To Keep The Conversation Going? Connect With Michelle on Instagram. (@themichelleawhyte)
Head to Michelle’s website to discover more.
