Status: LIVE

VIP Guest Etiquette

• Dress appropriately. You should never break your own personal comfort and style preferences, just pick the appropriate point within your spectrum.

• The meeting organiser warns the rest of the office at least 2 days in advance, and once again on the day itself when the VIP guests are coming. So that meeting rooms aren't crashed, dog barking can be mitigated, etc.

• Drinks and refreshments are brought in for VIP guests. Doing a "show of importance" in front of a VIP visitor by always having the OM act like a barista and ask what the visitor would like to drink is not our style. Instead we prefer to do a "show of humanity and professional efficiency" by personally asking the VIP visitor what they would like ourselves, then briefly leaving the room and asking the OM if they could sort it out and bring it in when it's ready. There is an important but subtle difference there.

• Brief the participants on expected behaviours. Do we address the VIP in the polite form "Sie" or can we use the informal "Du". Even if you know that the person prefers the informal "Du", it's always good to start with a "Sie", and then ask if you can say "Du", it shows respect. If a VIP tells you to please say "Du", don't annoy them by continuing with "Sie".

• Refrain from long visits to the bathrooms when VIP guests are in the house.

• If you run into a VIP, congratulations you just unwillingly got promoted into the sales team. Be nice. Say hello. Make the guest feel welcome. Let them feel that good 9Y team spirit juju. If you feel the moment fading, excuse yourself–no one expects you to bust out an on-the-spot standup comedy act, just that you're pleasant.

• The meeting facilitator does a quick-check of the facilities before the VIP arrives to ensure that we're in good shape. That includes the meeting room but also the common areas, the kitchen and the bathrooms.