Elevator Etiquette and Why It Matters
10/02/16
You may be wondering why and how elevator etiquette would be an important subject matter; I am writing this article based on my everyday experience of battling to get in and out of the lift every day.
At Performance Education we teach a program called the Professional Year course, where our students learn many aspects on how to thrive and succeed in the Australian business environment.
This topic on elevator etiquette can seem like a small subject, but it can actually be a significant topic to consider.
I’d say almost every office building, whether small, medium or large, has an elevator. CareerBuilder surveyed 3,800 workers and here are some facts on how your behaviour in a small crowded place can have an impact on your professional brand when you are sharing this space with your colleagues, managers and clients:
• Standing too close to another person when there is plenty of room in the elevator
• Squeezing into an already crowded elevator
• Not stepping off the elevator to let other people out
• Holding the elevator doors open for an extended period of time while waiting for someone else to get on
• Cutting in line to get on the elevator when other people have been waiting longer
• Taking the elevator to go up one or two floors instead of using the stairs
• Pushing the wrong button, so the elevator stops at more floors
• Facing away from the elevator door, instead of toward the door like everyone else
• My personal pet hate is people rushing into the elevator when the rest of us are pushing to get out of it.
So, next time you find yourself stepping into a lift, think about your professional etiquette and how you want to be perceived by your peers, managers and clients.
‘’Good manners will open doors that the best education cannot.’’ – Clarence Thomas
