Personal Contact Skills 

New business acquaintance:

• Be mindful of your attire and your personal appearance.
• Offer a firm handshake.
• Remember the importance of your posture/body language.
• Confidence and openness are critical to good communication.
• Use eye contact.
• Use your listening skills - participate in two-way conversations.
• Show interest in others.
• Store names and facts in your memory for later use.

Co-workers - all of the above PLUS:

• Be friendly, but not too friendly. Do not depend on your co-workers to be your base of friends outside of work.
• Leave personal life outside of the office.
• Try not to get pulled into listening to others' tales or problems.
• Do not be a part of the office gossip; be aware of what is being said, but do not pass it along.
• Stay apart from office politics; again, be aware of what is happening and who the players are, but do not become embroiled in it.