As sons of God, we can have a tremendous impact on the people we interact with in our jobs daily when we live according to the Word of God. This lifestyle of a believer allows us to be effective witnesses of Jesus Christ and can improve our relationships at work. The godly quality of our lives and the way we conduct ourselves can also open doors for us to lovingly express God’s goodness. We are ambassadors for Christ! As ambassadors for Christ, knowing how to conduct ourselves with good manners in the workplace is important. We will look at some practical ways that we can demonstrate Christian etiquette in our communication with others while on the job.
Why is Christian etiquette important in business? Christian etiquette involves good manners, moral conduct, honesty, and the love of God. When we exhibit these qualities in our workplaces, we are blessed, and we can bless the people around us. We also show others that we can be trustworthy. This all glorifies God and benefits our coworkers and the businesses we work for. Look at what the Word of God says we are:
II Corinthians 5:20:
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
As ambassadors for Christ, we represent the absent Christ here on earth. Our representation is an honor and privilege, so we want our conduct to match our title. The quality of our lives can call the attention of others and open doors to share God’s Word. In her booklet Christian Etiquette, Dorothy Owens says in a crystal clear and plain manner, “People will read YOU before they read the Word….” The way we conduct ourselves in front of others makes a difference. Before others listen to our message, they will observe in us something good.
II Corinthians 3:2:
Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men.
Small courtesies that we show to others keep our interactions civil and pleasant. Our communication at work reflects our conduct. Let’s look at three ways we communicate and some practical ways we can demonstrate our love, respect, and consideration for others in the category of business etiquette:
Face-to-face interactions
- Be punctual.
- Start with a smile. Greet fellow workers when you arrive at work and say goodbye when you leave.
- Stay engaged with the people you are with. Avoid letting a phone call interrupt a face-to-face conversation.
- Be gentle, polite, respectful, and use words like “please,” “thank you,” and “excuse me.”
Phone calls
- Remember that the human voice carries a tremendous amount of emotional information. Smile when you speak.
- As a courtesy to business associates, return phone calls as quickly as possible.
- Be positive! Keep your attitude optimistic, respectful, and solution-oriented.
- Say goodbye at the end of a conversation—it’s like putting a complimentary close at the end of a letter.
Emails
- Respond to emails quickly or as soon as possible.
- Use the subject line.
- Include an encouraging greeting and keep the message brief, but not abrupt. Be professional.
- Refrain from using all uppercase letters—it may come across to the reader as shouting.
- Pay attention to the details and double-check the email before sending it.
So why is Christian etiquette in business important? Because it is part of living the Word as ambassadors for Christ, and it helps us present ourselves in a gracious manner, so that others will want to hear the Word we speak. We covered some practical ways to show Christian etiquette in our communications while at work, specifically in our face-to-face interactions, when making phone calls, and while handling emails. Let’s show our coworkers that we ARE ambassadors for Christ!