Business Etiquette This book teaches individuals how to represent their

Question:
Before I began working for my present com-
pany, I thought that all men were taught to respect the “one
over rule” when using public rest rooms. In other words,
when entering a rest room with three urinals, the first man
should use either the first or the third urinal. The second
man stepping up should use the urinal that is one over—or
two urinals away from the one being used. The only time
the center urinal should be used is if it is the only vacant
one. Some men seem to have skipped this lesson—and the
one dictating that eyes should be kept straight ahead or
down. Although this is a rather raw topic, I would be most
appreciative if you would address it. Do the rules I men-
tion still apply?
Answer:
They certainly sound sensible enough. Every-
one needs dignity and privacy. Our private space should
be respected—even (perhaps especially) in a public
restroom. Until a better set of guidelines comes my way,

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Business Etiquette
I’ll wholeheartedly endorse yours. You may have helped to
educate a new generation of men on bathroom etiquette!
Tip #109
Tip #109
Tip #109
Tip #109
Tip #109
Be pr
Be pr
Be pr
Be pr
Be prepar
epar
epar
epar
epared for the “wandering eye.”
ed for the “wandering eye.”
ed for the “wandering eye.”
ed for the “wandering eye.”
ed for the “wandering eye.”
Question:
At a recent client conference, one of my best
clients and I went to dinner. This person threw me for a
loop when he expressed his interest in doing more with me
than business. He expressed a romantic interest in me! (I’m
engaged.)
How does one handle such a situation?
Answer:
I hope that you let this person know that, al-
though you value him as a client, you are already involved
in a healthy personal relationship, and you don’t believe in
mixing business with personal matters. Setting limits gently
but firmly is your best approach in this sensitive situation.
How does that old saying go? “You don’t get your meat
where you get your potatoes.” That’s a colorful way of say-
ing that lots of things can go wrong when people put ro-
mance where it doesn’t belong. You can jeopardize your
career, start gossip, lose the trust of important higher-ups,
cause political problems, or if one of you is married, earn
the wrath of a wronged spouse.
One way to avoid being confronted with the awkward
situation you describe is to arrange to have a minimum of
three people in attendance at future dinner get-togethers.
If you had done this, the unwelcome advance almost cer-
tainly would never have been made.
Tip #110
Tip #110
Tip #110
Tip #110
Tip #110
Don’t send the wr
Don’t send the wr
Don’t send the wr
Don’t send the wr
Don’t send the wrong message at par
ong message at par
ong message at par
ong message at par
ong message at parties.
ties.
ties.
ties.
ties.