The business card is an image of oneself
This is, arguably, the main factor behind any business card exchange. This naturally results in a whole series of attitudes linked to this exchange . Whatever its setting .
A business card is not given anyhow .
Because, it is a part of oneself that one gives. Mistreating a business card when you give it is a bit like disrespecting yourself. But if you respect yourself, why would others respect you?
Not important, really? Yet it is on this respect that depends, for example and among other things, the choice of a meeting time or date that is suitable, or not. This is the reason why, when we present a business card, we take the time to do so. In other words, we choose our moment and we make the moment last, as long as it is necessary.
What applies to you also applies to those to whom you give your card .
If there are several people involved, it is advisable to start the exchange by handing it over to the person who, a priori, has the most responsibility or weight. Which amounts to saying, in particular, that before sitting down in one’s place in a meeting room, in order to then hand out one’s business cards on the fly, like cards at a gaming table, one goes around the each other, quietly handing over your card, following the supposed order of hierarchy or importance, and you sit down afterwards. In general, the positioning of one in relation to the other is easily noticed. There is therefore, for example, very little chance that an N -3 employee will be right next to the big boss or an N-1.
What applies to you also applies to those to whom you give your card.
From this point of view, the Japanese ritual is very enlightening. He attaches as much importance to one of the senses as to the other. Therefore, when we receive a business card, we also take a moment to read it, slowly, from both sides.
And, if it is particularly neat, we take the opportunity to point it out to our interlocutor. In general, any negotiation or discussion begins with pleasantries, isn’t it? Here is one, all found.
In any case, receiving a business card, barely taking a look at it and immediately “stuffing” it into an old wallet or shoulder bag is not terrible. There are small details that kill!
The business card is a corporate image
” But, damn it, it’s true!” said the famous commissioner Bourrel, from the old television series , concluding an investigation and slapping the palm of his other hand. Indeed, all of the above applies all the more to specifically inter-company meetings and no longer between establishments or inter-departments of the same company, when the interlocutors do not know each other. Or even, in the context of simple interpersonal relationships.
In this context, the image of the company is superimposed on the image of oneself. If we refer to the Japanese example, there are cases where the company is so predominant that the name of the interlocutor does not even appear on his card. Only the function he occupies there counts. Moreover, let us add that when he leaves it, he also leaves there, in addition to the other work tools belonging to the company, his business cards.
Be that as it may, in general, it is very badly considering your business to give away the business card on which you appear. Same, in the other direction.
Reminder of the key points of a presentable business card
From the above points derive a certain number of key points to respect in order to always have presentable business cards . Because, presenting a business card in good conditions is not enough, if this presentation is made with business cards which are, precisely, not presentable. And worse, presenting such business cards in the rules of the art is to insist on their neglected and demeaning aspect.
A presentable business card is a pristine, wrinkle-free business card . Sometimes, pressed by time or by circumstances, one can be tempted to give the first card that comes along. The one that is in his wallet or that has been lying around in his laptop bag for months.
The solution ? Have enough business cards . This allows you to always have them on hand and to renew them constantly.
