When to Stand and Why – 4 rules

Knowing when to stand and why is part of good business etiquette and social manners.

I was reminded of this recently at a local Chamber of Commerce luncheon. When I arrived at my assigned table, two men who were already seated and whom I did not know, stood.

I was totally impressed. I had not experienced this courteous gesture in a long time. And it reflected well on them and also on their roofing company.

They stood for three reasons.

First, it’s correct etiquette to always stand when introducing yourself (or when someone introduces you.)

I had just begun to extend my hand and introduce myself to the two men…and they immediately stood.

Standing puts you in a position to make that all-important eye contact at approximately the same level. Appropriate eye contact can’t occur if you remain seated.

Secondly, always stand for a handshake to show respect. Sitting down to shake hands is unimpressive and a huge faux pas.

An exception is if you’re seated in a banquette against the wall in a restaurant, which makes it difficult to stand. You may fake stand and extend your hand across the table.

Thirdly, these men knew that when a woman first enters the table or leaves the table briefly, it is common courtesy for a man to stand. This rule is appropriate for business and social meals. While it may seem a bit old school, it follows traditional etiquette and is impressive.

And in general, stand when either a man or woman joins you. It could be at a restaurant table, in a board room, or even in a casual public area of a conference setting. This is especially important if the person who entered is of a higher rank and status such as the CEO or board chair of a company.

Well, back to the Chamber lunch…

Those two impressive roofing professionals are now scheduled to put a new roof on our house. And, it all began when they stood and introduced themselves when I joined their table for lunch.

Knowing when to stand and why might not win you a $24,000 roof job. But, it will help you “stand out” and be remembered in a positive way, which also reflects well on your company or organization.

You may also like to read Dining Etiquette Skills Still Relevant in Pandemic – 3 Reasons.

Additionally, you might be interested to read Business Etiquette – Old vs New Rules in Virtual World.

Image source: Unsplash.com

Rachel Wagner is a licensed business etiquette consultant, trainer, and speaker. She is the owner of the Oklahoma-based business etiquette firm Rachel Wagner Etiquette and Protocol. www.EtiquetteTrainer.com. Rachel provides onsite and LIVE virtual training presentations on a variety of business and dining etiquette topics for corporate clients around the country. As an etiquette expert, she is interviewed and quoted in a variety of local and national media outlets. These include The Washington Post, MONEY, Forbes, and many more. She is also newly credentialed as a VEP, a Virtual Event Professional, and Zoom Producer.