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Remotely Curious podcast: Etiquette

Humorists, podcast hosts, and manners experts Teresa and Travis McElroy talk about the invisible rules of remote-work etiquette, and how setting expectations can help us feel calmer and better at work.

Available for free on: Apple Podcast and Spotify or listen below.

Checkout new episodes every other week.

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New on Remotely Curious

Listen to Episode 4: Etiquette

For years, many of us knew the drill when it came to office etiquette: the dos and don'ts of being a good coworker or desk neighbor (don’t microwave fish in the break room), the norms around attire and working hours, and even how to behave in a meeting. Since we’ve gone remote, the rules have changed. In this episode, we’ll have a fun conversation with humorists, etiquette experts, and podcast hosts Teresa and Travis McElroy about what etiquette even is, which rules to break or keep, and how to be a better “dancer” with your remote coworkers.

Etiquette is like dancing. Some people can get out there and freestyle and do just fine. Other people need to learn the choreography to follow the steps and do the dance correctly.

–Travis McElroy, humorist, etiquette expert, and co-host of Shmanners podcast

We’ll talk about:

  • Getting it right with etiquette when you’re a new employee
  • The unspoken set of rules for video meetings (and what not to do)
  • Setting expectations around when and how we work
  • Getting personal with teammates while staying professional 
  • How to think of etiquette differently—not as stuffy and formal, but as a way to keep things calm
  • Which rules are OK to break in remote work 

About Teresa:

About Travis:

More resources:

Takeaways:

  • Be explicit. Set the bar for what others can expect from you—and for what you can expect from them.
  • Context is everything. What might be inappropriate for one person may not be for another. So try to read the room.
  • Don’t manufacture problems in your head. If you’re not getting negative feedback, try not to obsess. And if you’re worried, just ask.
  • “Meeting rudeness with rudeness only doubles the amount of rudeness in the world.” – Miss Manners

Learn more at remotely-curious.com. 

Special guests

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Travis McElroy

Etiquette expert, podcast host, and actor

An illustrated headshot of Travis McElroy

Travis McElroy is a podcaster, actor, producer, humorist, and four-time New York Times–best-selling maker known for The Adventure Zone; My Brother, My Brother and Me; and Shmanners.

An illustrated headshot of Travis McElroy

Teresa McElroy

Etiquette expert and podcast host

An illustrated headshot of Travis McElroy

Teresa McElroy co-hosts Shmanners with her husband, Travis McElroy. She supports the Emily Post school of etiquette, where you lead by example. She's lovely and should be sainted for dealing with all the weird things Travis and his brothers do.

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